Barjeel Art Foundation Launches Virtual Gallery in Honor of Women’s History Month

Located within the cultural capital of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, the Barjeel Art Foundation is a shining embodiment of contemporary and modern Arab art. Established in 2010 by Emirati commentator Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, this not-for-profit foundation oversees and displays his own collection of more than 1,000 pieces, such as paintings, sculptures, and installations.

Mission and Global Impact

The mission of the Barjeel Art Foundation is to collect and promote Arab art by artists all over the world, bringing this rich cultural heritage to the public, researchers, and scholars. Since its establishment, the Barjeel Art Foundation has organized more than 30 exhibitions within the local region and globally, engaging with renowned institutions in order to further an understanding of the dynamism of Arab art.

Key Exhibitions

A permanent exhibition, A Century in Flux, was launched at the Sharjah Art Museum in 2018 that featured major modernist pieces from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection.

Virtual Gallery Launch

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Celebrating Women’s History Month

In March 2025, in honor of Women’s History Month, the Barjeel Art Foundation launched a dedicated virtual exhibition of women artists in Arab abstract art on the Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery. This Sharjah Barjeel Art Foundation virtual digital art exhibition showcases the Arab world’s women artists’ contribution to the formation of 20th-century abstract art.

Immersive Digital Experience

With 47 selected artworks, contemporary Arab women artists virtual tour presents a 3D virtual tour through which art lovers are given the chance to view these masterpieces at any location worldwide. The paintings are shot in super high resolution through Art Camera technology, allowing viewers to zoom in and enjoy fine details, from delicate brushstrokes to rich color schemes.

Partnership with Google Arts & Culture

This digital showcase of women artists in Arab abstract art complements the Barjeel Art Foundation’s continued partnership with Google Arts & Culture, which previously launched more than 400 pieces of artwork from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection online. The Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery feature takes this to another level by engaging an immersive digital environment, viewable either via the Google Arts & Culture website or app on Android and iOS devices.

Featured Artists and Artworks

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Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation digital art show highlights a geographically diverse range of women artists from throughout the Arab world, each providing distinctive viewpoints to abstract art. Below is a table identifying some of the featured artists and some of their prominent works:

Spotlight on Key Artists

• Effat Naghi: As a trailblazer in Egyptian abstract art, Naghi’s works reflect a deep engagement with form and color, paving the way for future generations of artists in the contemporary Arab women artists virtual tour.
• Najat Makki: A contemporary Emirati artist, Makki’s Window captures the essence of nature and her cultural roots through bold, abstract compositions, prominently featured in the virtual exhibition of women artists in Arab abstract art.
• Menhat Helmy: Her Space Exploration / Cosmos is a dramatic geometric piece that brings together space exploration and Islamic art, a visual conversation between science and faith in the Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery.
• Malika Agueznay: Her 1968 Blue Algae piece takes inspiration from aquatic life, breaking down natural forms into stimulating abstract art, a gem of the Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation online art exhibition.
• Huguette Caland: Famous for her feminist-inspired and bold pieces, Caland’s City II examines cityscapes with nuanced critique of identity and liberty, as seen in the virtual tour of contemporary Arab women artists.

Artistic Diversity

These artists, who come from nations such as Egypt, the UAE, Morocco, and Lebanon, capture the richness and diversity of Arab abstract art. The use of high-resolution imaging for the Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery enables the viewer to see the finer details of each artwork, building a stronger bond with the artwork.

Significance of the Initiative

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Honoring Women’s Contributions

This digital exhibition of Arab abstract art by women artists is a timely commemoration of Women’s History Month, an annual celebration that honors women’s contributions in different fields. Women have been traditionally underrepresented in the world of art, with their accomplishments usually taking a backseat.

Addressing Gender Disparities

The Barjeel Art Foundation’s effort redresses this imbalance by turning the spotlight on the important contributions of Arab women artists toward the evolution of abstract art. Through curating this virtual tour of contemporary Arab women artists, the Barjeel Art Foundation not only honors their artistry but also places their tales within the larger context of the history of art.

Democratizing Art Access

The utilization of digital media such as the Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery also extends the reach of the exhibition further by making art accessible to everyone. This is especially crucial in areas where physical proximity to art centers might be difficult, so that individuals of all backgrounds can access high-quality cultural content. The digital art show conducted by Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation ensures that art enthusiasts, no matter where they are, can access these pieces without restrictions of space, facilitating inclusivity and international cultural exchange.

Wider Context and Influence

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Educational and Cultural Commitment

The Barjeel Art Foundation’s focus on education and accessibility is seen in its wider endeavors. Aside from this online exhibition of Arab abstract art women artists, the Barjeel Art Foundation also offers support to scholars and researchers by allowing access to its collection and starting programs such as the Barjeel Global Fellowship with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

Global Reach

Its exhibitions, including Taking Shape: Abstraction From the Arab World, 1950s-1980, have traveled internationally, underscoring the role of the Barjeel Art Foundation in saving and raising awareness of Arab art.

Promoting Critical Dialogue

This virtual tour of contemporary Arab women artists is in line with the mission of the Barjeel Art Foundation to promote critical discussion about contemporary art practice among Arab artists. In choosing to highlight women artists, it also engages with gender inequality in the art world, a theme the Barjeel Art Foundation has worked with in earlier exhibitions such as A Century in Flux: Chapter II, which addressed the challenges of institutional representation and gender equality.

Conclusion

The Sharjah-headquartered Barjeel Art Foundation digital art exhibition by the Barjeel Art Foundation for Women’s History Month is an inspiring tribute to the strength, creativity, and unbreakable spirit of Arab women painters. By presenting their work in abstract art, the Barjeel Art Foundation expands our knowledge of Arab culture and challenges received narratives in the history of art. This online exhibition of women artists in Arab abstract art is a celebration of the power of art to cross boundaries, calling on the world to explore the achievements of these great women. Art enthusiasts are invited to explore the Google Arts & Culture Barjeel Art Foundation Pocket Gallery and engage with this engaging contemporary Arab women artists virtual tour, so that the stories of these artists remain an inspiration for generations to come.