DUBAI – Italy’s football giant Juventus has featured an exclusive artwork made solely of roasted coffee beans by local artist Abdul Kareem, thus bringing the innovative flair of the Middle Eastern artists to the forefront of the global art scene.
The intricate visual artwork portrays Kerim Alajbegovic, who is a young Bosnian football player gaining fame among the 36-time Serie A champions, which prompted the club to create the artwork.
The artist Abdul Kareem was commissioned by a renowned agency to create an artwork with something out of the ordinary, namely to replace the traditional pen and brushes with coffee beans.
The finished coffee bean portrait gained immediate global traction after being published across Juventus’ official social media channels, including its flagship Instagram page which commands an audience of over 50 million followers.
Within hours of its release, the video showcasing the meticulous artwork garnered tens of thousands of likes and widespread praise from football enthusiasts worldwide.
Discussing the creative process, Kareem shared that working with coffee beans presented a unique artistic challenge, especially under the pressure of representing a storied European football institution.
The Dubai resident emphasized that while international viral reach is an encouraging bonus, his primary fulfillment stems from the fluid performance of creation and encouraging other regional artists to experiment with non-traditional mediums.
This high-profile commission represents Kareem’s second major artistic venture connected to top-tier European football. In 2024, the calligraffiti specialist teamed up with AC Milan and UAE flag carrier Emirates to construct a monumental eight-by-eight-meter horse sculpture made from 187 official football jerseys.
Positioned beside the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse ahead of the prestigious Dubai World Cup, the installation brought together global sports culture and Middle Eastern artistic expression.
Kareem expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent the UAE’s flourishing creative ecosystem on international platforms, adding that he hopes such projects continue to introduce the rich heritage of Arabic calligraffiti to diverse global audiences.
