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Bio:

Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim is an artist, educator, and Arab art specialist based in Doha. Born and raised in Qatar with a multi-cultural Hadhrami Yemeni background, he holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking and a minor in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He later pursued a Master's in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London. Abu-Futtaim has been part of several Biennials and group shows internationally including Berlin, Dubai, Doha, Santa Cruz, and more. His work is part of several collections including the Barjeel Art Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Cruz, and other private collections. Abu-Futtaim co-founded and led the Modern and Contemporary Arab Art Auctions at AlBahie Auction House in Doha for over seven years from 2017-2024 and helped with the presence and growth of the Arab art market in the region and internationally.

Abu-Futtaim is currently a Junior Faculty and Artist in Residence with the Department of Painting and Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar.

Artist Statement:

My practice is the outcome of an ongoing exploration and introspection of the often arbitrary and absurd nature of cultural and political identities. My interest lies in examining visual elements and symbolisms associated with essentialist notions of homogenous identities. Through the work, I attempt to understand the impact of Western hegemony on the cultural production of the West Asian region, and its relation to collective nation-building and identity building exercises. It also examines the impact of visual representations of a people and culture as a subject, critically examining the entrenched systems of image production, dissemination, and representation in new media.

Through my practice, my intent is to foster a nuanced understanding of cultural hybridity, while navigating the complexities inherent in assuming the role of an artist operating within a post-decolonial condition.

Email : mohammed_abufuttaim@hotmail.com / habeemmohahb@vcu.edu

Instagram : @abufuttaim

LinkedIn : Habeeb M Abu-Futtaim

EDUCATION

PGCert (MASTER OF ARTS) in MUSEUM AND GALLERY PRACTICE (2018), UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, QATAR

EDUCATION CITY, QATAR FOUNDATION

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN PAINTING & PRINTMAKING & MINOR IN ART HISTORY (2016)

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, QATAR EDUCATION CITY, QATAR FOUNDATION

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

● Mishwar “ مشوار†”, PAPR Alumni Group Exhibition, Project Space Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts Qatar, Doha (2024)

● this Sand is made of Stars, this Sea is made of Pearls-Horizon Historiographies, curated by Dr. Hesperia lliadou Suppiej, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts Qatar, Doha (2024)

● On Echoes of Invisible Hearts, Curated by Lila Nazemian I Friedrich-Ebert Foundation, Berlin, Germany (2019)

● The Blue Hour, Curated by Mo Reda, Museo de Santa Cruz, Bolivia (2018)

● XX Bienal Internacional de Artes Visuales de Santa Cruz de las Sierra(Santa Cruz Biennial), Santa Cruz, Bolivia Curator: Mo Reda I Chief Curator: Eduardo Ribera (2017)

● BFA Senior Show, Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar (2016)

● Art & Medicine, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Multaqa Gallery, Qatar Foundation, Curatorial Team and Participating Artist (2015)

● Domestic Affairs: A House Is A Home To A Paradox, Garage Gallery, Fire Station Artist Residency, Qatar Museums, Doha (2015)

● We're in The Same Room, Katara Arts Centre, Katara, Doha-Qatar (2015)

● The Post-Oriental Odyssey, The Mine Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai-UAE. Curated by Mo Reda (2015)

● Chromothesia, Art & Medicine Interactive Installation, Weill Cornell University Qatar, Doha (2014)

COLLECTIONS

● Museo de Arte Conternporaneo Santa Cruz (Museum of Contemporary Art), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

● Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE

● Google Cultural Institute, Art Project, google.com/culturalinstitute/collections

CONFERENCES | PANELS | COMMITTEES

● CURATOR, ART WEEK (INAUGURAL), PAINTING & PRINTMAKING DEPARTMENT, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH

UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS QATAR, DOHA (2024)

● SPEAKER, MATERIALITY OF MIGRATION IN THE INDIAN OCEAN & GLOBAL ASIA: ARTIFACTS, SELF-FASHIONING,

BELONGING CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY GA:MA LAB (VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THE

ARTS QATAR), UC DAVIS, AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY QATAR | DOHA INSTITUTE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES, DOHA (2024)

● PROJECT CO-LEAD AND JURY MEMBER, THE FINE ART AWARD, PAINTING & PRINTMAKING DEPARTMENT AT VIRGINIA

COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS QATAR, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION

QATAR, DOHA (2024-2025)

● SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER, CURATORIAL & ART WRITING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, ARAK COLLECTION, DOHA (2023)

● JURY MEMBER, ‘ART4GOOD’ COMPETITION, EDUCATION ABOVE ALL, QATAR FOUNDATION, DOHA (2023)

● PANELIST, YOUTH AND RE-THINKING ART AND CULTURE IN DOHA, ART FOR TOMORROW I THE NEW YORK TIMES, DOHA (2021)

● MODERATOR, 2X22 EXHIBITION PANEL DISCUSSION I MUBARAK AI-THANI & SIMON MORTIMER, W HOTEL, DOHA (2022)

● SPEAKER, ANNUAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT, QATAR FOUNDATION, DOHA (2012)

CURATORIAL WORK & WRITING

● Same Same But Not Different, Catalogue Essay, Home Economics: Solo Show Hana Al Saadi, Wusum Gallery, Doha (2024)

● Wafaa Bilal Conflict Exchange (CX) workshop, Tasmeem 2024 Conference: Under Construction, Led by Wafaa Bilal, Drew

Cameron and Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts Qatar, Doha - Workshop leader (2024)

● 168:01 Installation at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts Qatar, by Wafaa Bilal - Co-organizer (2023)

● Between Memory & Space: Noora Al Hardan, Curated by Peter Welz, Gallery 1 Katara, Doha - Project Manager (2023)

● Back To Musheirb: Shared Streets, Shared Stories, Musherib Museums, Doha-Qatar, Curatorial Team I Concept Development,

Object Research, Narrative and Exhibition Design (2018)

WORK

● JUNIOR FACULTY & ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS QATAR,

QATAR FOUNDATION, DOHA (2023-PRESENT)

● ADJUNCT FACULTY, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS QATAR, QATAR FOUNDATION,

DOHA (2022-2023)

● SPECIALIST, MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART, ALBAHIE AUCTION HOUSE, DOHA (2020-2023)

● CATALOGUER AND RESEARCHER, ALBAHIE AUCTION HOUSE, DOHA (2017-2020)

PRESS

● On Echoes of Invisible Hearts: Narratives of Yemeni Displacement, Review, ArtMejo.com, Tariq Shahrouri (2018)

● The Crystallization of a QF Education, Qatar Foundation Publication, (2020)

● Collected in College, Context Magazine, Issue no. 4, Published by VCUQatar (2015)

● Works On The Arabian Post-Oriental Odyssey at Postlude 1 Show, Review, Al Bayan(UAE), Rasha Al Maleh, 9 March (2015)

● Between the Brushstrokes, Review, Gulf Times, Qatar, Dec 7 (2015)

● Postlude Volume 1: The Post Oriental Odyssey at The Mine, Hind Mezaina, theculturist.com (2015)

● Faces Of Photography, FACT Magazine Qatar, Issue 19, p. 40-42 (2012)

PUBLICATIONS

Art & Medicine, Published by Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar & Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar, (2015)

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Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim

Bio & Statement Works Selected Writings Blog - Process Work (coming soon) ‘Studio Culture’ Podcast

Contact

Bio & Statement

Works

Selected Writings

Blog - Process Work (coming soon)

‘Studio Culture’ Podcast