“Abu Dhabi Art Fair” organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, concluded its 16th edition with more than 35,000 visitors.
This year, the fair was the largest and most diverse in the history of “Abu Dhabi Art” so far.
With 102 galleries from 31 countries showcasing more than 1,500 artworks.
The current fair also included 42 new galleries from countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, and more.
“Abu Dhabi Art the 16th” highlighted three new sectors, including:
- “Bold Art, New Art” curated by Mirna Ayad, focusing on contemporary artists from the region
- “Art Collectors’ Salon” curated by Roxane Zand, featuring galleries presenting artifacts, historical items, and manuscripts
- “Silk Road: Interconnected Identities” curated by Elvira Eever Galtchynova-Malik, bringing together galleries and artists from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
The fair featured several well-known Emirati artists, including:
Mohammed Kazem, Hussein Sharif, Hassan Sharif, Azza Al Qubaisi, and Abdul Qader Al Rais.
Seven Artworks Inside and Around the Fair
“Abu Dhabi Art” also presented seven artworks inside and around the fair, including:
- Works by Abdoulaye Konaté (Evy Gallery).
- Raed Yassin (Isabel Gallery): “City Mirage.”
- Rayyan Tabet (Sfeir-Semler Gallery): “(T Decoupages)” 114 cut-out pages from 19th-century Jules Bourgoin manuscripts.
- Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola (Carbon 12).
- Nikki Davies-Okundaye (Kó): The textile artist preserves traditional “batik and adire” techniques.
- Dima Srouji (Lawrie Shabibi).
- Stefano Simoantachi (Salwa Zeidan): Inspired by quantum entanglement, The Prism: presents an illuminated exploration of infinite dimensions.
More Artistic Works
The fair program also includes: Emerging Artists’ Horizons – curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi.
This annual fair features works dedicated to emerging and resident female artists in the UAE for 2024.
Gateway: Another Bank – curated by Odessa Warren and Karen Harmand, revealing the connections between the Arab world and Latin America.
And Arab Manifestations: Modern Art and Decolonization Paris 1908 – 1988 – A Closer Look at the Farjam Collection – The Farjam Foundation presented nearly 50 artworks, curated by Mourad Montazami and Madeleine de Colnet, by award-winning artists from the Arab world.
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Community Partners Project: Crafts as a Language – “Abu Dhabi Art” annually hosts community partners who contribute meaningfully through cultural production in the community. This year, “House of Artisans” invited community partners to explore different ways to translate their narrative.
Through symbolism and patterns as a form of communication.
As part of the year-round “Abu Dhabi Art” program, artists’ works will be displayed in cultural sites.
These are installations by artists Dina Matar, Ahmed Saeed Al Areifi Al Dhaheri, and Manal Mahamid – at Al Jahili Fort and Al Ain Oasis in Al Ain until January 21, 2025.
