3rd Jun, 2026 12:00
Live Sale: Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art, June 2026
51
‡ FATEH MOUDARRES (SYRIAN 1922-1999)
LES AMANTS (THE LOVERS)
signed Moudarres in Arabic lower right; inscribed in Arabic on the reverse
oil and sand on canvas
40.5 x 30.5cm; 16 x 12in
unframed
Executed in 1993
Sold with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Estate of Fateh Moudarres
A seminal figure in Syrian art, Fateh Moudarres is a pioneer of modern painting in his country, integrating elements of Assyrian art with Christian iconography and European modernism. Born in Aleppo, Moudarres studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Rome and later at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris (1972) where he was deeply influenced by Christian symbolism as well as Surrealism and abstraction. The presence of totemic figures in compositions such as this one are reminiscent of Assyrian statuary and ancient Sumerian and Islamic art.
Moudarres’ flattened figures, muted palette, and dreamlike abstraction have featured in some of the foremost international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale, the New York International Art Fair and Contemporary Arab Art Exhibition in Paris. Towards the end of his career, Moudarres moved to Syria where he was a lecturer at the University of Damascus until his death. In 2019, the artist was the subject of the major retrospective Fateh al-Moudarres: Colour, Extensity and Sense held in the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.
Sold for £5,500
LES AMANTS (THE LOVERS)
signed Moudarres in Arabic lower right; inscribed in Arabic on the reverse
oil and sand on canvas
40.5 x 30.5cm; 16 x 12in
unframed
Executed in 1993
Sold with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Estate of Fateh Moudarres
A seminal figure in Syrian art, Fateh Moudarres is a pioneer of modern painting in his country, integrating elements of Assyrian art with Christian iconography and European modernism. Born in Aleppo, Moudarres studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Rome and later at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris (1972) where he was deeply influenced by Christian symbolism as well as Surrealism and abstraction. The presence of totemic figures in compositions such as this one are reminiscent of Assyrian statuary and ancient Sumerian and Islamic art.
Moudarres’ flattened figures, muted palette, and dreamlike abstraction have featured in some of the foremost international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale, the New York International Art Fair and Contemporary Arab Art Exhibition in Paris. Towards the end of his career, Moudarres moved to Syria where he was a lecturer at the University of Damascus until his death. In 2019, the artist was the subject of the major retrospective Fateh al-Moudarres: Colour, Extensity and Sense held in the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.
Auction: Live Sale: Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art, June 2026, 3rd Jun, 2026
If you want to start collecting striking modern and contemporary art in a newly developing market, our sales are for you. Each spring and autumn, the Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Department hold tightly curated, live and online auctions. Expect to find Arab artists such as Rabab Nemr, Ahmed Farid, Seif Wanly and Fateh Moudarres. African artists featured have ranged from modern masters such as Ablade Glover, Sam Ntiro and Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, to contemporary artists George Lilanga, Jilali Gharbaoui, Famakan Magassa, Christano Mangovo, Oluwole Omofemi, Esther Mahlangu and Brett Seiler.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 31st May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 1st June: 10am to 8.30pm (Drinks 6-8.30pm)
Tuesday 2nd June: 10am to 5pm
