Where Gesture Meets Story – Recent Art from the Yes Collection

The Yes Collection is made up of diverse international Modern and Contemporary Art, all selected with passion and intellectual curiosity by Dubai based collector Charles Al Sidaoui. Each choice is driven by his intuitive response to paintings: “I buy what I love, from around the world. Hung together, it’s like the paintings talk to each other. They find common ground and appreciate difference and co-exist with harmony and texture – art is an international language.”

The exhibition is the latest in our ongoing series that shines a light on important private collections from the Middle East. Previous exhibitions were selected from the collections of Lebanese collector Elie Khouri (2021) and Iranian collector Farhad Farjam (2023). Arts Club exhibition in London and Dubai are curated by Amelie von Wedel and Pernilla Holmes of Wedel Art.

Focusing in on contemporary works from the Yes Collection, The Arts Club Dubai’s curated selection is divided over two floors following two themes – ‘Rethinking the Figure’ on Floor 1, and ‘Contemporary Abstraction’ on Floor 2.

Both figuration and abstraction have been key movements in painting over the past two decades, addressing key issues affecting our world, intimate and individual perspectives and driving forth the language of contemporary art. Together these artists present a compelling vision of both the use of figurative art to tell the socio-political stories of our time and the bold approaches to gesture, colour and feeling at the heart of new waves in abstraction.

About Charles Al Sidaoui: Charles began collecting art in 2007, and now owns over 150 modern and contemporary works by artists from more than 20 different countries. He is based in Dubai, which he considers the ‘capital of the world’ – a key inspiration in his decision to collect from all around the world, with no one continent dominating. His collection hangs in his home, juxtaposing world-renowned artists alongside young, emerging talent.

First Floor of Club

Clock wise direction (starting from the left side, first row)

Vojtěch Kovařik:

Vojtěch Kovařik,
Snake Wizard,
Acrylic and oil on canvas
200.7 x 300.4 cm | 79 x 118.3 in

Vojtěch Kovařik’s (b. 1993, Valašské Meziříčí, CZ, based in the Czech Republic)
work blends iconography and mythology with bold, large-scale compositions that evoke the solidity of sculpture. Drawing from his background in ceramics and sculpture, he creates vibrant paintings that mix oil, acrylic, and spray paint to suggest depth on flat surfaces. His recent solo exhibitions include Under the Weight of the World at The Power Station, Dallas (2024) and The Labours of Hercules at Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2023). His work is featured in prominent collections like the Musée d’art Moderne de Paris and LACMA.

Sungi Mlengeya:

Sungi Mlengeya,
Relations, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
149 x 139.8 cm | 58.6 x 55 in

Sungi Mlengeya (b. 1991, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) is a self-taught artist known for her minimalist acrylic paintings featuring dark figures against expansive white backgrounds. Her work focuses on celebrating women and uses negative space to convey freedom and introspection. Mlengeya was recognized in the Apollo 40 Under 40 Africa (2020) and was part of A Force to Be Reckoned With by UN Women (2021).

Lyn Liu:

Lyn Liu,
Imitation-Absent, 2023
Oil on linen
61 x 30.5 cm | 24 x 12 in

Lyn Liu,
Imitation-Standing, 2023
Oil on linen
178 x 128 cm | 70.1 x 50.4 in

Lyn Liu’s (b. 1993, Beijing, based in New York, US) work explores themes of alienation, using symbolism and absurdity to reflect on oppressive social realities. She approaches her paintings like film stills, emphasizing light, staging, and costume to create surreal dreamscapes. Liu has held notable solo exhibitions, including recently at The Breeder in Athens (2024) and at Kasmin in New York (2022).

Zemba Luzamba:

Zemba Luzamba,
Red Carpet, 2015
Oil on canvas
100 x 150 cm | 39.4 x 59.1 in

Zemba Luzamba’s (b. 1973, Democratic Republic of the Congo, based in South Africa) work reflects his experience of migration, offering a nuanced view of migrant communities through contemporary realist painting. His art often satirizes and critiques social and political power structures, especially those of Africa’s post-colonial elites, blending observation with commentary. Recent solo exhibitions include Folk Ritual at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery in Berlin (2023) and upcoming shows at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, West Palm Beach (2024) and London (2025).

Shaina McCoy:

Shaina McCoy,
Aunt Tammy & Baby Joe, 2022
Oil on canvas
76.2 x 61 cm | 30 x 24 in

Shaina McCoy (b. 1993, Minneapolis, US) creates vibrant oil paintings that depict faceless figures drawn from family photographs, emphasizing posture rather than facial features. Using thick layers of paint and a pastel palette, her works evoke the nostalgia and emotional weight of childhood memories. McCoy’s notable solo exhibitions include A Family Affair at Ever Gold in San Francisco (2019) and Father, Father at Francois Ghebaly Gallery in Los Angeles (2020).

Ghazi Baker:

Ghazi Baker,
Are You Talking To Me, 2023
Acrylic, oil and charcoal on canvas
98 x 76 cm | 38.6 x 29.9

Ghazi Baker (b. 1967, Beirut, LB) creates dynamic paintings, drawings, and mixed media works that explore the contemporary human condition through personal reflections and aesthetic experiences. His art engages with themes of unity and disunity, often intersecting with popular culture and media while employing repetitive and provocative themes. Baker’s work is held in prestigious collections across the Middle East and Europe, and he recently showcased his pieces at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Maxwell Alexandre:

Maxwell Alexandre,
sem titulo, 2022
Oil on canvas
210 x 127 x 3.5 cm | 82.6 x 50 x 1.4 in

Maxwell Alexandre (b. 1990, Rio de Janeiro, BR) creates politically charged compositions that blend European classical painting with street art and muralism, often reflecting on religion, militarism, and contemporary Brazil. His work draws on personal and cultural symbols, remixing traditional art forms with hip-hop’s energy and rhythm. In 2023, Alexandre was named “Man of the Year” in the Culture category by GQ magazine, and his work has been exhibited internationally.

Farah Atassi:

Farah Atassi,
Seated Woman with Yellow Hair, 2023
Oil and enamel on canvas
200 x 160 cm | 78.75 x 63 in

Farah Atassi (b. 1981, Brussels, based in Paris, FR) creates figurative paintings using the visual language of abstraction, blending geometric forms with thick layers of paint. Her compositions resemble collages, juxtaposing diverse elements from sculpture, painting, and design within carefully structured spaces. Atassi’s work is featured in notable collections such as the Centre Georges Pompidou, Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

Rebecca Ackroyd:

Rebecca Ackroyd,
Nancy nude, 2022
Gouache, soft pastel on somerset satin paper
126 x 164 cm | 50 x 65 in

Rebecca Ackroyd (b. 1987, Cheltenham, UK) explores the interplay between drawing, abstraction, and figuration across her artistic practice. Her work juxtaposes overtly feminine elements with abstract architecture, creating a dialogue that invites encounters and challenges narratives. Ackroyd’s pieces range from bold and absurd to subtle and intimate, pursuing a feminist exploration of space and body ownership, with her work included in notable collections such as the Sifang Art Museum in Nanjing and the Zabludowicz Collection in London.

Sverre Bjertnæs:

Sverre Bjertnæs
Four Figures in a Room, 2017
Oil and silkscreen on canvas
200 x 160 cm | 78.3 x 63 in

Sverre Bjertnæs (b. 1976, Oslo, NO) is known for his exploration of portraiture, blending photorealism with abstract and figurative painting to create playful compositions that engage with the complexities of human relationships. His innovative approach embraces a variety of media, allowing him to juxtapose visual styles and narratives. Bjertnæs has exhibited in multiple solo shows across Norway and internationally, including London, and has established a strong presence in Norway’s contemporary art scene.

Jordi Ribes:

Jordi Ribes,
Sister morphine, 2023
Oil on canvas
116 x 89 cm | 45.7 x 35 in

Jordi Ribes (b. 1972, Barcelona, ES, based in Barcelona, ES) blends traditional oil painting techniques with a contemporary digital aesthetic, creating vivid, slightly blurred images reminiscent of digital screens. His use of fluorescent, artificial colours and polished surfaces evokes a fantasy world where the familiar meets the surreal. Ribes has exhibited his work at Galería Senda in Barcelona and L21 in Palma de Mallorca, with group exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo in Madrid.

Enrico Riley:

Enrico Riley
Untitled: Midnight, The Party, Ritual Breath, 2022
Oil on canvas
147.3 x 134.6 cm | 58 x 53 in

Enrico Riley’s (b. 1973, Connecticut, based in New Hampshire, US) paintings explore themes of violence and hope within the context of African American cultural traditions, using formal techniques to challenge linear narratives through fractured bodies and ambiguous environments. His work emphasizes the materiality of paint and the expressive potential of imagery while addressing issues of black identity and visibility. Riley is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Rome Prize in Visual Arts, and he currently holds the George Frederick Jewitt Professorship in Art at Dartmouth College.

Second Floor of Club

Starting from the left

Ahmed Alsoudani

Ahmed Alsoudani,
untitled, 2010-11
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas
160 x 162.6 cm | 62.9 x 64.1 in

Ahmed Alsoudani (b. 1975, Baghdad, based in Berlin, DE) creates evocative paintings that reflect on Iraq’s complex history while addressing broader themes of struggle and resilience through vibrant landscapes and colours. His work blends influences from 17th- and 18th-century European art, as well as elements of Middle Eastern literature and contemporary poetry. Alsoudani represented Iraq at the Venice Biennale in 2011 and has been featured in prominent exhibitions worldwide, including Saatchi Gallery, earning recognition as one of the most collectible emerging artists by Forbes Magazine.

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim:

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim,
My Garden’s Details,
Acrylic on canvas
200 x 150 cm | 78.8 x 59.1 in.

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (b. 1962, Khor Fakkan, UAE) is a pioneering figure in the UAE’s contemporary art scene, emerging in the late 1980s with a focus on the unique landscapes of his homeland. His abstract paintings draw inspiration from the rocky terrain between the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains, featuring geometric shapes and symbols that convey subconscious expressions. Ibrahim has participated in notable group exhibitions, including recent showcases at the Bitar Museum in India and Christie’s London, as well as at the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2023.

Isshaq Ismail:

Isshaq Ismail,
Theory of Life, 2019
Acrylic and paper collage on canvas
88.4 x 63.1 cm | 34,8 x 24.9 in.

Isshaq Ismail (b. 1989, Accra, Ghana, based in London, UK) creates vibrant, monochrome paintings that explore the interplay between social, cultural, and political influences on identity. His bold portraits often feature exaggerated, grotesque features, reflecting themes of desire, resilience, and hope, while employing a style he describes as “infantile semi-abstraction.” Ismail’s work has been showcased in various notable exhibitions, highlighting his unique perspective on the human condition in the postmodern era.

Xiyao Wang:

Xiyao Wang,
The uninhabited island no. 6,
Acrylic and oil stick on canvas
200 x 190 cm. | 78.8 x 74.8 in.

Xiyao Wang’s (b. 1992, Chongqing, based in Berlin, DE) abstract paintings embody movement, capturing a sense of boundlessness and life energy on canvas. By blending techniques like oil and acrylic paints with chalk, graphite, and oil sticks, she creates lyrical arrangements that evoke expansive landscapes and dynamic thoughts. Notable upcoming exhibitions include her solo show Do You Hear the Waterfall? at Perrotin, New York, in 2024.

By the door second floor

Ablade Glover:

Ablade Glover,
Rooftops (Townscape), 2013
Oil on canvas
122 x 122 cm. | 48 x 48 in.

Ablade Glover’s (b. 1934, Accra, Ghana) vibrant artworks reflect his deep passion for life, using warm impasto pigments to convey the sun-drenched landscapes of Ghana. His compositions capture animated scenes of everyday life, focusing on themes like women, bustling markets, and the energetic diversity of African culture, blending abstraction with subtle realism. Glover has been honoured with the Alumni Award from the African-American Institute in New York and is a permanent member of the Royal Society of Arts in London.