Independent Collectors

: RETROactive

The Jean-Paul Najar Foundation celebrated its first solo-show of the artist Judy Rifka for the exhibition “: RETROactive”.

JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, 1976. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, 1976. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes

As well as being Dubai’s first public, not-for-profit foundation, the Jean-Paul Najar Foundation also houses one of the most impressive collections of Conceptual Art, with works by James Bishop, Gordon Matta-Clark, Suzanne Harris, Marcia Hafif, and Linda Francis to name just a few.

Economist, photographer and sculptor, Jean-Paul Najar, spent most of his life in Paris and it was here that he began collecting art from the mid-1960’s. In addition to collecting Conceptual and Minimal Art, Najar also curated many exhibitions and published in depth texts on the artists that featured within his collection. Following his death, Najar’s daughter Deborah Najar Jossa set out to continue her father’s legacy by establishing a foundation in his name, in a building designed by legendary architect and father-in-law, Mario Jossa.

From September 2016, the Jean-Paul Najar Foundation will celebrate its first solo-show of the artist Judy Rifka for the exhibition “: RETROactive”. Rifka will spend two weeks in Dubai for an artist’s residency during which time she will create a series of works to be shown in conjunction with those already in the Najar Collection from the 1970s. Here, we show a selection of artworks from the exhibition.

JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Number 2 of 7), 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Number 2 of 7), 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Number 3 of 7), 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Number 3 of 7), 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Art-Rite Drawing #20), December 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Art-Rite Drawing #20), December 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
© Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled, circa 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Art-Rite Drawing #18), December 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes
JUDY RIFKA, Untitled (Art-Rite Drawing #18), December 1978. © Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, 2016. Photo: Elmer Magallanes

For more information visit the Jean-Paul Najar Foundation.