Richard Mille's 'Modern Icons' Art Book Explores Modern and Contemporary Art Across MENA and Turkey

The second edition of the Richard Mille Artbook, 'Modern Icons,' curated by Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, presents a bilingual Arabic and English volume celebrating key figures in modern and contemporary art across the MENA region and Turkey. Featuring a cover collaboration with Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi, the book includes seven sections covering the Gulf, North Africa, Morocco, Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, and Turkey. It highlights movements like surrealism in Egypt and modernism in Iraq, while emphasizing the roles of women such as Samia Halaby, Etel Adnan, and Simone Fattal in Levantine art. Collectors and patrons are spotlighted, including Seyda and Can Elgiz discussing their non-profit collection and Basel Dalloul on the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, which houses extensive Arab world art. A fold-out page features Dia al-Azzawi's 'Sabra and Shatila Massacre (1982–83),' depicting the tragic events with graphic solidarity. The book concludes with a tribute to the late Tarek Al-Ghoussein and his unfinished 'Odysseus' series documenting Abu Dhabi's islands. Published in partnership with the Louvre Abu Dhabi and coinciding with the annual Richard Mille Art prize, the volume is available at Richard Mille boutiques and was originally reviewed in Canvas 113: Common Threads. Richard Mille, a Swiss watch brand, supports contemporary art in the Arab world through this publication, blending craftsmanship with cultural advocacy.