Feature Raed Yassin's exhibition “Warhol of Arabia” reimagines the pop artist's 1977 visit to the Gulf country and a bygone era in the Middle East.

November 9, 2026 — 4 min read

From Raed Yassin, Warhol in Arabia at the 61st Venice Biennale (photo Greta Rainbow/ Hyperallergic )

VENICE — In January 1977, Andy Warhol skipped President Jimmy Carter’s inauguration to spend a week attending tea parties and dinners in Kuwait. He was invited by the country's national arts council and held a solo exhibition at the Salat Al Funoon gallery, featuring portraits of Mao Zedong and Marilyn Monroe and an array of flower prints. Domestically, his star was fading; with fewer patrons willing to meet his high asking prices, Warhol was under pressure to enter new markets.…