NYU Abu Dhabi Graciously Receives Gift of Significant Modern Artworks
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has recently been enriched by a magnificent gift of two remarkable lithographs by some of the most influential modern European artists.
The generous donation includes Pablo Picasso’s “Femme nue au bonnet turc” and Amedeo Modigliani’s “Portrait de Jeanne Hébuterne.”
The benefactors behind this remarkable gift are Fairouz and Jean-Paul Villain, philanthropists and esteemed connoisseurs of art who have been steadfast supporters of NYU Abu Dhabi and its Art Gallery. The lithographs, each a masterpiece in its own right, stand as a testament to the Villain couple’s commitment to fostering arts and culture within the UAE.
Expressing gratitude for the generous donation, Mariët Westermann, Vice Chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, stated, “We are so grateful to our dear friends Fairouz and Jean-Paul Villain for their generous gift of two striking works of art to the University. The philanthropist couple are true connoisseurs of art and conveners of the UAE arts community, and they have long been great supporters of NYU Abu Dhabi and its Art Gallery.”
The inclusion of these significant works aligns seamlessly with NYU Abu Dhabi’s commitment to making arts integral to education, research, community engagement, and collaborations with other cultural institutions in the UAE. This gift is regarded as another milestone in the institution’s history and its mission as a comprehensive center of higher education and research.
The gratitude ceremony held by NYUAD to acknowledge this momentous gift was attended by NYU Abu Dhabi leadership and faculty, members of the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery Advisory Circle, and key members of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project team.
NYU Abu Dhabi, as a leading international research university with a fully integrated liberal arts college, embodies a transformative approach to higher education where intellectual and creative pursuits are explored through global and local perspectives. The Arts and Humanities Division at NYUAD now boasts an MFA program in Art and Media, characterized by its full-time, studio-intensive, and interdisciplinary nature.
The university’s Art Gallery, the region’s sole university art gallery offering scholarly and experimental museum exhibitions, contributes to Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape alongside NYUAD’s Arts Center and The Institute. Together, they bring rigorous and vibrant programming to the city, enriching its cultural fabric and fostering frameworks for exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.
