Patterson also remained relatively upbeat: “People are being cautious, and there was an awful lot of bargaining,” she said. “But we knew it would be difficult. Although sales were low, we don’t feel completely deflated. We do have a feeling that we’re still building things and meeting people here. There is still a buzz, and people are thirsty for it.”

Isabelle van den Eynde, owner of B21, emphasized the importance of judging one’s audience, “I feel that international galleries have tried to come up with something linked to this region, but many people here are really eager to see Western art.” Indeed, she seemed to be on to something, as the fair was littered with pieces from such first-generation regional staples as Iranians Farhad Moshiri and Shirin Neshat.

A misreading of the collectors may also have been a factor in the poor sales at Sotheby’s recent auction series in Doha, which some insiders say underestimated the tastes of collectors, favoring ostentatious jewelry over more sophisticated contemporary art. Attendance was rumored to be disappointing, and with the exception of one or two bidders duking it out over a few lots, the bidding was generally slow.

But Cellini, who also has a branch in Doha, felt the sales were a brave move given the nature of the Doha market. “I think the market in Doha is very limited and highly vertical in that there are just a handful of collectors, with very sophisticated or specialized taste,” she said. “We were surprised they decided to hold a sale there. I bet the collector base hasn’t gone too far outside of the royal family.”