Quick overview

The contemporary art in the Arab world dates back at least to the
turn of the last century. In the first half of the 20th century, Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Abstraction all took their turn in a sort of cliffs notes version of Western art history.
In the mid 20th century, as many Arab countries gained independence, intellectuals called for painters to create something regionally distinct, works that for better or worse could be labeled "Arab."

In recent years, the contemporary art from the Arab world has started to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the global scene, especially after the opening of the 3 major houses offices in the Gulf area and the success of art events such as Sharjah biennale and the Gulf Art Fair.