Abu Dhabi’s Bassam Freiha Art Foundation has opened a major retrospective titled Nja Mahdaoui: The Choreographer of Letters, showcasing the remarkable six‑decade career of Tunisian artist Nja Mahdaoui (b. 1937). Running through 25 January 2026 in the foundation’s main gallery on Saadiyat Island, the exhibition brings together nearly 30 works that trace the evolution of Mahdaoui’s visually striking abstract art rooted in Arabic calligraphy. (ART AFRICA)
Organised in collaboration with the Nja Mahdaoui Foundation, the retrospective has been co‑curated by Dr. Michaela Watrelot, Head Curator and Director of Exhibitions at BFAF, alongside Molka Mahdaoui, the artist’s daughter. The show presents paintings, prints, bronze sculptures and mixed‑media pieces on materials such as parchment, vellum and metal, offering a broad view of the artist’s practice. (ART AFRICA)
Among the highlights are early works from Mahdaoui’s Concretion series, where vibrant swirls of colour interact with his signature gestural calligraphic forms, and large compositions from the Azimuth series that use sweeping diagonals and circular motifs to create rhythm across the surface. These works reveal how Mahdaoui has consistently freed the Arabic letter from its linguistic function, transforming it into a visual language that resonates beyond words. (ART AFRICA)
Described by Dr. Watrelot as an internationally recognised “choreographer of letters,” Mahdaoui is widely regarded as a pioneer in calligraphic abstraction, having developed a dynamic and expressive visual vocabulary that bridges tradition and contemporary art. His work has influenced generations of artists and helped shape global understandings of modern art from the Arab world. (ART AFRICA)
The exhibition also coincides with the launch of Mahdaoui’s first catalogue raisonné—a comprehensive scholarly project documenting his entire body of work, to be published by Rizzoli—marking a significant milestone for Tunisian and Arab modern art. (Nja Mahdaoui Foundation)
The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the first private art foundation in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island, continues to present a diverse season of exhibitions, bringing together historic collections, modern artistic voices, and cultural programmes that invite dialogue and community engagement. (ART AFRICA)
