Lot 37 – Abdulhalim Radwi, Untitled (City Scene)

signed and dated Redwi / 96 lower left; signed and dated Radwi / 1417 in Arabic lower right
watercolour on paper
45.8 x 32.2cm; 18 x 12 5/8in
49 x 35cm; 19 1/4 x 13 3/4in (mounted)

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by the family of the artist.

Property of a Lady, Madrid, Spain

Provenance
Faustino Moreno Villalba Collection, Spain
Acquired from the above as a gift by the present owner

Abdulhalim Radwi, born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was a prominent sculptor, curator, and poet whose artistic practice was shaped by both his cultural heritage and modernist influences. Radwi significantly contributed to the advancement of Saudi modernism, drawing upon his experience as one of the Kingdom’s pioneering artists to pursue studies abroad. He earned his Fine Arts degree in Rome between 1961 and 1968, a period during which his work evolved from realism towards abstraction. Upon returning to Saudi Arabia, he began teaching, which reinforced his reputation within the local arts community and inspired emerging artists such as Taha Al Sabban and, later, Ahmed Mater. Although deeply engaged with Western art movements, Radwi remained committed to his roots, integrating elements of Arab heritage into Cubist and Expressionist frameworks, which distinguished his work from that of his peers.

In the 1970s, Radwi served as Action Director of the Association for Arab Artists in Madrid and completed his studies at the Royal Arts Academy in 1979. That same year, he was awarded a professorship and taught in Madrid until 1984. Throughout his prolific career, Radwi produced thousands of artworks and held leadership roles in numerous art organisations, including serving as director of Jeddah’s Centre for Fine Arts.

His works have been exhibited throughout the Middle East and Europe, notably receiving third prize at the Ibiza Biennale in 1968. Radwi’s body of work exemplifies a sophisticated synthesis of tradition and innovation, and his integration of regional themes with contemporary techniques paved the way for the development of modern Saudi art.