| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Artist |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 8" (173 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | Year, 1967 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 58 Years |
| Birthplace | Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Hometown | Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates |
| School | Masafi School, UAE |
| College/University | • Al Ain University, United Arab Emirates • Kyoto Seika University, Japan |
| Educational Qualification(s) | • A Degree in English Literature (1989) at Al Ain University, United Arab Emirates • A Course in Japanese Art (1994-1996) at Kyoto Seika University, Japan |
| Religion | Islam |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father- Farmer |
| Siblings | His elder brother dropped out of the school. |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Abdullah Al Saadi
- Abdullah Al Saadi grew up in a Muslim family in the UAE.
- While he was in school, he joined an art class. He even used to attend evening art classes with his teachers. He used to draw for the magazines at his school.
- His teachers encouraged him to participate in various art competitions.
- His elder brother was also good at painting. However, his brother dropped out of school and could not pursue his career in painting.
- After completing his school, he set up an art studio in his home. However, he could not focus on his art at his home. He then rented a small apartment near his home. He faced various difficulties as there were no proper facilities at his rented apartment. Later, he started his own artwork studio.
Abdullah Al Saadi at his studio
- Abdullah then joined a Folk Art Association.
- While he was in college, he met the Emirati artist Hassan Sharif. He said that he learned various things about art from the experiences of Hassan.
- He is one of the founding members of the Emirati avant-garde of the 1980s and 1990s.
- In 1998, he attended painting workshops at the College of Arts, Edinburgh.
- He is known for his artwork named My Mother’s Letters (1998–2013).
- With his childhood experiences, he launched his artwork Naked Sweet Potato (2000-2010), which was displayed at the UAE Pavilion group show at the 2011 Venice Biennale.
Abdullah Al Saadi’s Naked Sweet Potato artwork
- In 2002, he joined the Wadi Project Workshop at the Arctic Foundation, Eindhoven.
- He once shared that his mother did not know how to read or use modern communication tools. She used stone, pieces of wood, and plants to communicate her message. He used to collect such items which later became his inspiration for his conceptual artwork.
- His artistic work includes painting, sculpting, and drawing.
- His artistic work has been displayed in various exhibitions like Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen, Germany (2002), The National Art Museum, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2005), 7 U.A.E., Contemporary Art, Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Center, UAE (2007), 8th Sharjah International Biennial, Sharjah (2007), and 60th Venice Biennale, Venice (2024).
Abdullah Al Saadi displaying his work at the 60th Venice Biennale
- Abdullah is among the first five conceptual artists from the UAE. The other four artists are Hassan Sharif, Hussain Sharif, Mohammed Kazem, and Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim.
- He uses sketches of his trip and objects in his painting and artwork.
Abdullah Al Saadi’s artwork
- For around 40 years, he has been writing diaries. He always carries his diary with him.
- He enjoys travelling on his bicycle. He paints his travelling experience in his various artworks.
- He has published his artwork in various books.
Abdullah Al Saadi’s book
- During his trips, he collects various objects for his artwork. He has collected stones, metal boxes, tins, and cans from his trips.
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