Hassan Sharif's group exhibition, Reflections: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Villain Collection at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates will be on view February 13–May 31, 2026.
The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation's press release follows:
Jean–Paul and Fairouz VIllain are collectors whose journey has been shaped by a continuous openness to discovery. Their approach to collection has never followed a fixed path; rather, it has evolved organically, informed by their lived experiences, their environment and their sustaoned engagement with culture.
Prior to settling in Abu Dhabi, they formed a shared collection focused on 18th–century French furniture and 16th–century painting. Their move to the region marked a pivotal moment, prompitng a gradual shift toward the Middle East, guided by Fairouz Villain's cultural knowledgde and a growing interest in the region's artistic narratives.
The Villain Collection took its current direction approximately twenty years ago, with a focus on modern art from Syria and Lebanon, later complemented by early works from the local scene, including a seminal acquisition by Hassan Sharif. As the regional art landscape evolved, the collection expanded to embrace contemporary practices, reflecting a sustained curiousty for emerging artistic languages and critical perspectives.
