Art Basel Appoints Wassan Al-Khudhairi as Artistic Director for 2027 Qatar Edition
Art Basel has appointed Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as Artistic Director of the 2027 edition of Art Basel Qatar, presented in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+. Al-Khudhairi succeeds Wael Shawky and will develop the artistic vision in collaboration with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's Chief Artistic Officer. The second edition will run January 28 to 30, 2027, with Preview Days on January 26 and 27 at Msheireb Downtown Doha, and gallery applications are now open. The curatorial theme between / بين examines the condition of being between as a space for encounter and exchange.
The Signal
The appointment signals continued investment in the MENASA region's art ecosystem and positions the fair to deepen international exchange through solo gallery presentations and expanded Special Projects. Al-Khudhairi's prior roles, including founding director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, bring institutional experience that supports long-term market and audience development. The maintained solo format and elevated immersive programming indicate a strategy to strengthen the platform's global relevance for galleries and collectors focused on the region.
- People: Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Wael Shawky, Vincenzo de Bellis
- Museums: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
- Locations: Doha
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