THE ART CIRCLE
دائرة الفن
NEWSLETTER
JANUARY
MARCH
2026
Dear friends of The Art Circle,
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2025 and share a glimpse of what awaits us in 2026.
This year has been full of inspiration and unforgettable moments. From private studio visits, like the intimate time we spent with Ramin Rokni and Hesam, to discovering the magnificent showroom of Lorenzo Quinn, every experience reminded us of the richness of creativity around us.
Barbara Farahnick-Mathonet
Founder & President
ANNUAL GET TOGETHER AT OUR MEMBER MIRAN FARAH TARAZI
Home Visit with lunch
8th January 2025
11:30 am
AT THE HOME OF MOHAMMED AFKHAMI
Private tour of the extended collection
Jan 19th | 11am
Mohammed Afkhami is generously opening the doors of his expanded apartment to reveal to our members all the new acquisitions that have been added to the collection since our last visit in December 2022.
British-Iranian art collector Mohammed Afkhami’s collection spans works from Iran or Iranian artists around the world. The underlying theme is a focus on modern and contemporary Iranian art, creating a chronological archive of works from the late 1950s until present day.
PRIVATE COLLECTION OF HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN BIN KHALIFA AL NAHYAN
Guided visit
9th February 2026
11am
NOOR AL SUWAIDI STUDIO
Private visit
25th February 2026
11:00 AM
Noor Al Suwaidi is an artist, curator, and cultural producer from Abu Dhabi with nearly two decades of experience in the arts. A graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. and Kingston University, London, she is known for her abstract, figurative paintings distinguished by bold use of color and form. Her work has been shown in London, Berlin, Istanbul, Kuwait, Washington, D.C., and across the UAE, and is held in
collections including Barjeel Art Foundation, ADMAF, and significant private collections in the region. She contributed to the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi through its cultural programming and collaborated with Expo 2020 Dubai and Swatch. In September 2024, she presented her solo exhibition Divine Chaos at Aicon Contemporary, New York, further cementing her international presence.
Photo: Yes; There is always time for love | Acrylic of canvas | courtesy of the artist
LOUVRE ABU DHABI | PICASSO, THE FIGURE
Guided visit
March 3rd
4:30pm
This remarkable showcase explores Picasso’s lifelong fascination with the human figure and traces how he constantly reinvented form, proportion, and perspective throughout his career. From early academic studies to Cubist deconstructions and expressive late works, the exhibition highlights his fearless experimentation and his ability to challenge artistic conventions. Through paintings, drawings, and key works on loan from
prestigious international collections, visitors will gain deeper insight into Picasso’s creative process and his profound influence on modern art.
This immersive visit offers not only a journey through the evolution of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, but also a chance to reflect on how the human form can be reimagined through emotion, movement, and abstraction.
The visit will be followed by a gathering with light bites at the Art Lounge at Fouquet’s, offering you the opportunity to exchange impressions and connect in an elegant and convivial atmosphere.
ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
Guided visit
March 10th
4 pm
Newly opened, Zayed National Museum tells the story of the United Arab Emirates and its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
During a one-hour guided tour exploring the museum’s remarkable architecture, we will discover the building’s structural and aesthetic details, the intentions behind its design, and the unique spaces that shape the museum experience.
MONA ATASSI PRIVATE COLLECTION
Home Visit
March 26th
2:00 PM
Dubai
THE ART CIRCLE COMMUNITY OPENING THE NEXT CHAPTER
Celebrating all that we discovered together and looking forward to painting new memories in 2026
