Bissan Gallery began as one of Doha's pioneering fine art galleries in 1998, introducing international and regional art to the Qatari audience.
Photographs, a catalogue and newspaper coverage from the gallery's early years — gathered as Bissan prepares to reopen.
The main exhibition hall.
Orientalist paintings from the collection of the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, shown with an accompanying catalogue.
A documentary exhibition on the architecture of Al-Andalus, from the era of the Umayyad governors to the Nasrid kingdom (711–1492).
Openings of exhibitions by artists from Qatar and across the Arab world.
Coverage in Al-Raya, Al-Sharq and Al-Watan. Headlines are translated from the Arabic originals; open a clipping to read it in full.
The gallery's hall opened with fifty works by master calligraphers, past and present.
An exhibition with a poetry evening and lectures, marking the anniversary of the Nakba.
A group exhibition of nineteen artists, followed by a review of its sculpture and ceramics.
An exhibition organised by the Bosnian Art Association.
Murals by the two Palestinian painters, tracing more than half a century of Palestinian history.
The gallery set out its programme for the visual arts and opened the season with the first exhibition of women artists, under the patronage of H.H. the Emir's wife.
Held with the Qatar Fine Arts Society, the first auction of its kind in Doha: more than 35 paintings and sculptures raised over QAR 32,000 for an artist living in Qatar who needed urgent heart surgery.
The Bahraini artist's series of seals, opening on 1 October.
A symposium on the Qatari artist's exhibition. “Art is a daily practice,” he said, “and I refuse to play the preacher through it.”
A summer group exhibition, and a critic's reflection on identity in Arab art.
An exhibition of photographs by a Belgian artist, inspired by Asia.
An exhibition of works by the poet Adonis — “painted poems”.
A solo exhibition by the Qatari artist, opened by the French Ambassador.
If you have photographs, invitations or memories from Bissan's early years, we would love to hear from you.
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