This class explores the production, sale, display and exchange of works of art, and the patrons, artists and collectors who participate in this economic, social and political form of cultural production and aesthetic valuation. While students will learn about global art patrons, our focus will be on the creation of art markets in the Middle East in the 20th and 21st centuries. Case studies will explore patterns of transportation, exchange and trade; interactions of collectors, critics and curators; contexts of contemporary collections; new museum architecture; auction houses and commercial galleries; and cultural heritage theft and restitution. Special attention will be paid to the emergence of the contemporary art market in the Middle East via cultural revolution, technological innovation, political conflict, energy markets and global competition. Global art markets in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas will be discussed alongside Middle Eastern institutions such as art fairs, art foundations, artists’ collectives, and museums.