b. 1952, Riffa, Bahrain; lives and works in Bahrain Rashid Al Khalifa is recognized as the foremost patron of the arts in the Kingdom of Bahrain and for his own...
b. 1952, Riffa, Bahrain; lives and works in Bahrain
Rashid Al Khalifa is recognized as the foremost patron of the arts in the Kingdom of Bahrain and for his own prolific career as an artist. Al Khalifa is known for his ability to seamlessly blend traditional and contemporary architectural elements with the natural environment in his work, reflecting an ongoing investigation into how to meld the traditional with the modern, and the natural with the man-made.
Al Khalifa draws inspiration from his surroundings in Bahrain. The unique light, colors, and atmosphere of Bahrain’s landscape as well as its rapid urbanization greatly influence his art, which has found expression through wall sculptures and immersive installations. Al Khalifa’s work has evolved throughout his long career. His early landscape paintings from the 1980s, his later atmospheric abstractions from the mid-2000s, and his minimalist aluminum works from 2010 onwards, draw upon his experiences and environment as a source of inspiration. His two artworks showcased here, Standing Mobile and Waves, simultaneously reminisce about the past and contemplate the future, showcasing his mastery of the duality between tradition and modernity. Al Khalifa’s work is defined by its diversity in style and medium, reflecting his enduring desire to evolve as an artist, and mirroring the urbanization and transformation of his native country.
Al Khalifa’s artistic journey started in 1972 when he studied at Hastings College of Arts and Technology in Sussex. Al Khalifa was first president and now honorary president of the Bahrain Arts Society. He is also chair of the National Arts Council in Bahrain. An avid art collector, Al Khalifa established the RAK Art Foundation in 2020 dedicated to supporting artists by providing opportunities; encouraging cross-cultural collaborations and exchange. The foundation also showcases his extensive collection of Modern and Contemporary Art. Al Khalifa has participated in numerous international solo and group exhibitions, including First Light, Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbaijan; Cusp, Liechtenstein National Museum, Vaduz, Liechtenstein (2022); Transverse Wave, me Collectors Room, Berlin, Germany (2019). In 2020, Rizzoli published ‘Rashid Al Khalifa, Full Circle’ documenting his art, life and connection to his country.