NYU Abu Dhabi launches the Tarek Al-Ghoussein Fellowship to honour the late artist’s achievements
NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has established a new fellowship in honor of the late Tarek Al-Ghoussein, professor of visual arts and first program director of the Master of Fine Arts program at NYUAD. It will be awarded every academic year to an outstanding student in the MFA program.
Established with support from the Farjam Foundation, the first recipient of the Tarek Al-Ghoussein Fellowship is Adele Bea Cipste, a first-year MFA student at NYUAD who completed her undergraduate degree in 2022 at NYUAD and is currently pursuing an MFA in Art and Media at the University.
Tarek Al-Ghoussein was a professor at NYUAD and artist of international renown. Prior to his passing in 2022, he made an indelible mark on the artistic and academic landscape of the UAE. Museums around the world continue to collect his acclaimed photographic works, celebrated for their deep engagement with his Palestinian and Kuwaiti heritage and the changing landscapes of the Gulf. In 2013 Al-Ghoussein represented Kuwait at the 55th Venice Biennale, the world’s biggest and most historic stage for showcasing contemporary art.
Educated at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the University of New Mexico, Al-Ghoussein brought a rich academic experience and diverse practice in the visual arts to his teaching, and served as a model and mentor to a new generation of artists. As a founding faculty member of NYUAD’s visual arts programs, he played a critical role in shaping the institution’s approach to arts education, emphasizing the importance of creativity, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and methodological innovation.
The Farjam Foundation is well known for its collection of modern and contemporary art from the MENA region and West Asia, and for supporting arts education and cultural exchange. The collaboration between NYUAD and the Foundation is inspired by a shared dedication to making art accessible to all and providing opportunities for artists to explore, understand, and enrich the human experience through their art.
