The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities mourned the passing of visual artist Abdul Karim Al Orrayed on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The authority commended Al Orrayed’s significant contributions to enriching the visual art movement in the Kingdom and his creative works across the Arab world and beyond.

In a statement, the authority said: “The Bahraini art scene has lost a distinguished figure and a pioneer of visual art, whose creative works played a key role in shaping the Kingdom’s artistic identity.”

Born in 1934 in Manama—a city he cherished and reflected in his artwork—Abdul Karim Al Orrayed was among the pioneers who laid the foundations of the visual art movement in Bahrain. He opened his first art gallery in the capital in 1960, marking a true turning point for the development of plastic art in the country.

His creations spanned both expressive and abstract painting, documenting aspects of Bahraini social life and folklore while reflecting his openness to modern European art. He was distinguished by his remarkable ability to convey local and global themes and issues in a style that was both simple and profoundly innovative.

Al Orrayed played a key role in establishing art associations and gatherings, including the Art Amatures Association and the Bahrain Contemporary Art Association. He represented Bahrain at numerous major events and art conferences, both locally and internationally. His works were showcased in various Arab and international exhibitions, including in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Singapore.

Al Orrayed authored several books documenting his artistic journey and shedding light on Bahrain’s history and heritage. His most notable publications include “A Window into History”, “The Harvest of Art”, and “Manama Throughout Five Centuries”. Over the course of his illustrious career, he was honoured with numerous awards and accolades, reflecting his distinguished achievements and significant contributions to the Arab art landscape.