UAE Art Exhibitions: Discovering Creativity in Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Vibrant Galleries

UAE Art Exhibitions is rapidly evolving, attracting foreign artists and emerging local talent. The country’s diversity is a perfect canvas for interwoven cultures, allowing unrestricted expression and artistic collaboration. From the trendy creative enclaves of Alserkal Avenue to the art foundations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, these are the art exhibitions to see in the UAE.

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UAE Art Exhibitions

UAE Art Exhibitions offer a captivating journey through the creative landscapes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, showcasing vibrant galleries and artistic expressions. From contemporary masterpieces to traditional works, these exhibitions highlight the region’s growing influence in the global art scene. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a casual visitor, exploring UAE’s art exhibitions provides a unique opportunity to experience cultural diversity and creative innovation in a dynamic setting.

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The Glam Factory and The Foundry

The Foundry, located on Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Boulevard, is a sleek, renovated warehouse-style space ideal for creative professionals. Bright and modern, this hub houses co-working spaces, a library, reading pods, a cafe, a podcast room, and an art gallery all in one location. Andy Warhol’s artworks will take center stage for just over a month, with over 100 of his original pieces from 1954 to 1987 on display. The Glam Factory, which follows a successful exhibition in Al Ula Saudi Arabia last year, is the first time Warhol’s art has been shown in the UAE.

Warhol’s works illustrate the premise that life imitates art, as they feature various significant personalities from his social circles. Portraits of Marilyn Monroe, an autographed Michael Jackson guitar, Muhammad Ali’s heavyweight championship belt, and historical images of notable figures such as Diana Ross and Yoko Ono will all be displayed. Address: Boulevard Crescent, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai. When: September 18 to October 31, 2024.

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Frondescenc (XVA)

XVA Gallery, a secret gem for art, design, and cuisine aficionados, is tucked away amid Al Fahidi’s peaceful lanes. This quaint gallery, located near its courtyard cafe, features artworks that stimulate a better appreciation for nature’s beauty. Frondescence, a bright celebration of the season’s wealth, honors the fruits of summer.

The exhibition includes works by XVA artists that capture the rich landscapes, vivid foliage, and splendor of nature in full bloom. As the summer exhibition comes to an end, these intriguing pieces can be viewed until September 11. Address: XVA, Al Fahidi neighborhood, Dubai. When: Until September 11, 2024.

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Fragility and Resilience: Ishara Art Foundation

The Ishara Art Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2019, focuses on representing modern South Asian art. Located amid Alserkal’s popular avenues, its latest exhibition is artist Ayesha Sultana’s first solo exhibition in the UAE.

Fragility & Resilience explores our planet’s delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, taking the audience on a voyage of exploration and introspection. This overall theme is tightly intertwined throughout each of her works, and the exhibition includes some of her early hand-blown glass sculptures.

Visitors can also expect to witness new oil paintings, watercolors on Japanese silk tissue, works on clay-coated paper, and photographs. Sultana’s artistic journey is also documented in her sketchbooks, diaries, and in-progress artworks, which will be on exhibit. Address: Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, Dubai. When: Until 7 December 2024.

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Being Van Gogh & Toda

Toda, the UAE’s first 360-degree art hub, combines art and technology to challenge our preconceptions of great works while also exploring music and drama. Being Van Gogh is a fully immersive art experience that takes spectators through Vincent Van Gogh’s life and artistic path. It runs till October. The post-impressionist painter, famed for his vivid use of color and dramatic brushwork in oil paintings, lived a life filled with suffering in many ways.

This 55-minute show walks spectators through many periods of his life, illustrating the hardships and passions that propelled him to become one of the most famous artists of all time. These experiences feature artwork from numerous institutions and exhibitions throughout the world, allowing visitors to interact with a diverse array of his work. The show airs virtually every day, with multiple watching hours available. Tickets can be bought online. Address: Madinat Jumeirah, Beach Road. When: until October 1st.

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In Your Dreams & Bayt Al Mamzar

Bayt Mamzar was started in a small white home in a quiet neighborhood in old Dubai. Its doors welcome the local creative community, which includes artist studios, residency programs, exhibitions, and a thriving library. In Your Dreams features the works of seven artists and displays a variety of multidisciplinary artworks that mix traditional components of Iranian culture with imagination and gender identity.

Curated by Yalda Bidshahri, these pieces are inspired by dreams and premonitions, and they investigate the relationship between our innermost wishes and their ability to develop into reality. When: From August 3 to October 12. Address: House 2, 26 Street, Al Mamzar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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Solace in Soil at Efie Gallery

Since its establishment in 2022, Efie Gallery, located in an unassuming corner of Al Quoz, has showcased the diverse talent of Africa and its diaspora. Its most recent exhibition, Solace in Soil, features the works of Nairobi artist Maggie Otieno and Sharjah’s Dr Mohamed Yousif.

Each artist uses their medium to express their relationship to the ground, incorporating historical relevance into their works to tell the story of their region. Expect to witness works that combine natural components like wood, dried tree bark, braided leaves, and rustic metals. When: Until October 6th. Address: Efie Gallery, Al Khayat Art Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Dubai.

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At The Edge of Land & Jameel Arts Centre

This independent institution, located on the Jaddaf Waterfront, aims to engage communities via education, research, and modern art. At The Edge of Land is a group exhibition that will be open until the end of September and will feature works by over 20 artists. The show, which first opened in Jeddah earlier this year, dives into the complex connections between landscapes and trade, depicting stories of conflict, physical deterioration, and extraction while also examining concepts of memory, nostalgia, isolation, loss, and connection.

Curated by Lucas Morin, the exhibition will feature pieces from the Jameel Arts collection as well as loans and new commissions from 20 international artists. The exhibition also includes a film program, which is on display in Jameel Arts Centre’s Gallery 9, located on the second floor, until August 18. When: From now until September 29. Address: Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai.

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Carpets of Eden & Gardens of Fantasy & Leila Heller

Following her success in New York, Parisian gallerist Leila Heller opened her first gallery in Dubai in 2019. This spacious venue, located on Alserkal Avenue, features three exhibition areas. A group exhibition, Carpets of Eden, Gardens of Fantasy, curated by Behrang Samadzadegan, is currently on display, exploring how carpets have long been woven into the fabric of human existence, acting as a medium for storytelling and cultural expression.

The exhibition features a range of finely made carpets that serve as dynamic canvases of expression as artists breathe fresh life into an age-old art form. When: Until Friday, September 20th. Leila Heller’s address is Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Dubai.

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A New Dawn & Sharjah Art Foundation

Ka Awatea, A New Dawn, curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, showcases a collection from Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tāmaki. Emily Karaka, a descendant of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Isthmus, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Kahu, and Ngāti Hine, presents her work in this exhibition. Karaka, a self-taught artist, creates intensely personal pieces that are steeped in the colonial politics into which she was born. The show brings together chosen pieces from both public and private collections spanning nearly five decades of career.

Karaka calls these pieces “political landscapes,” expressing her continual commitment to justice and equality. Her painting conveys political statements like Māori sovereignty, social justice, environmental care, and love for the family through a vibrant color palette and expressionistic style. Address: Al Mureijah Art Spaces, Corniche Street, Sharjah, UAE. When: From now till December 1.

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UAE Art Exhibitions in Abu Dhabi 2024

UAE Art Exhibitions in Abu Dhabi include a year-round series of exhibitions and public programs, cutting-edge visual arts exhibition programs, and affiliate public events focusing on modern and contemporary art from the UAE, the region, and beyond.

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All is Flux & Rizq Art Initiative

RAi, a female-founded art space, opened its doors in January of this year and is dedicated to showcasing artistic expression from the Global South. RAi supports the community by providing chances for both established and new artists, curators, academics, and creative pioneers. Its most recent exhibition, all is Flux, explores the themes of time and metamorphosis, inspired by the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “All is flux.”

“Nothing stays still.” The theme of life’s continual change is especially visible in the changing seasons. As we enter autumn, the group exhibition reflects how the season affects the artists, exploring themes of transformation. Address: Leaf Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. When: 19 September to 30 October.

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Hussein Sharif & Reframing Reality

Hussein Sharif: Reframe Reality will look at the artist’s work throughout four decades, focusing on his wide oeuvre of paintings, drawings, collages, and sculptures. Hussein Sharif, a Dubai native, is a key figure among the UAE’s postmodernist artists. He is also a member of the ‘Five,’ who rose to prominence in the mid-1980s and are widely considered as the pioneers of contemporary art in the UAE. The ‘Five’ musicians included Hassan Sharif, Abdullah Al Saadi, Mohammed Kazem, and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.

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Through the Seasons with Eric Carle

For the first time in the region, the work of world-renowned illustrator and young children’s book author Eric Carle is being recognized in an exhibition titled Through the Seasons with Eric Carle, which celebrates the marvels of nature all year. With over 70 books to his name, including the well-known The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this exhibition explores Carle’s beautiful depiction of the seasons, from hibernating bears in winter and hatching chicks in spring to vibrant flowers in summer and ripe apple trees in the fall. The display, curated by Reem Al Hashimi, includes original artworks such as painted tissue-paper collages from nine famous picture books, as well as unpublished pieces.

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Native Plants in the UAE Exhibition

The Native Plants in the UAE exhibition delves into the life conditions of each plant indigenous to the UAE region, examining how the surrounding environment influences its growth and gives it its distinct variances in color, texture, size, and behavior. From the renowned Ghaftree to the hardy desert grasses, each specimen has a narrative of adaptation and survival, which is portrayed through a carefully curated selection of art installations and informative exhibits that highlight the ecological value of these plants and trees.

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LOBI LOBI: Pascale Marthine Tayou

“LOBI LOBI: Pascale Marthine Tayou” honors the work of the globally recognized modern artist Pascale Marthine Tayou. This show features works that investigate the shortage and abundance of resources in the modern landscape. The exhibition, titled after the artist’s poem LOBI LOBI, explores the many ambiguities of consumer and material culture. The exhibition features vivid and thought-provoking sculptures, mixed media, and installation pieces.

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Fahrelnissa & the Institutes: To the Sky

Fahrelnissa and the Institutes: Towards a Sky highlights the abstract work of notable women artists who pioneered Jordan’s modern and contemporary art scene, anchored by the impact of internationally acclaimed painters Fahrelnissa Zeid, Wijdan, Hind Nasser, and Ufemia Rizk.

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Life Is A Circus

existence Is A Circus will be the Cultural Foundation’s first NFT art exhibition, featuring the works of 12 UAE-based digital artists who were all commissioned with the same theme and concept: to express the ironic existence we are currently experiencing. The exhibition will take the visitor on a journey between the past and the present, allowing them to witness the UAE’s first digital art exhibition through videos, images, and press clippings, as well as show how digital art has progressed into video and animation. Visitors can scan the barcode next to each piece of art to go directly to the NFT edition of the artwork and make a direct purchase.

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Lullabies: A Journey via Song

Lullabies: A Journey through Song is a collection of sleep songs from many parts of the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It also takes parents and caregivers on a sentimental journey via lullabies they listened to as children. The exhibition uses many media forms to emphasize each song, its history, context, and use, including all-new video animations, interactive games, and exploration zones.

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Farah Al Qasimi: General Behavior

General Behaviour showcases the photographic and video works of Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi, who lived in the United States, from 2012 until 2021. The presentation, presented in chronological order, delves into the layers of multiculturalism and consumer culture in the UAE, questioning our perceptions of reality and negotiating the intimacy of public and personal settings. Al Qasimi’s career is divided into four major sections: The World Is Sinking, Bodies and Spectre, May’s Blue Eye, and Trompe L’oeil, as well as screenings of Al Qasimi’s video pieces Alone in a Crowd and Dream Soup.

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Artist Mohamed Al Astad offers Another Perspective

Mohamed Al Astad’s exhibition Another Perspective introduces a new style of contemporary art. His approach, ‘The Art of Beach Pearls’ (Danat Al Shawati), employs sea sand, rust, and time to create stunning visual pieces, which are put alongside large-scale paintings to form an interactive installation that provides viewers with an immersive experience.

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Al Mujamma Exhibition

Al Mujamma is an interactive archive exhibition that tells the story of the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi, from its conception by the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and inception in 1973 to its shutdown in 2009 and reopening in 2018. The building is regarded as one of the UAE’s most famous modern heritage buildings, exemplifying postmodern design.

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Mohammed Chabaa on Visual Consciousness

Mohammed Chabaa: Visual Consciousness explores the life and work of Mohammed Chaba (1935-2013), a pioneer of Moroccan contemporary art and Global South modernity. Visual Consciousness, the artist’s first posthumous retrospective exhibition outside of Morocco, features paintings, sculptures, graphic art, interior design models, and archive material spanning his creative journey from 1957 to 2012.

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Art Installations

The Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi commissioned art installations from artists Mahmoud Al Ramahi, Jalal Luqman, and Azza Al Qubaisi. The commissioned artworks address the institution’s position as the heart of the cultural community, as well as its heritage as a venue for free dialogue and artistic experimentation, via the lens of the artists’ own experiences and recollections.

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Films Featuring Pioneering Emirati Artists

A film venture that features pioneering Emirati artists in their homes, studios, and other areas where they are most inspired, speaking about their childhood experiences, the communities where they grew up, and their first exhibition.

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Murals of History Exhibition

Murals of History is a group show including 15 UAE-based artists who have produced murals inspired by Arab art history, each with their artistic interpretation. The exhibition is an homage to and continuation of the Arab art movement, with bright murals that incorporate Arab and Islamic art components into modern creative techniques.

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From Cinderella to Sindbad: German & Arab Timeless Tales

The literary exhibition “From Cinderella to Sindbad: German and Arab Timeless Tales” is a research collaboration between the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection Berlin (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) and the Arab-German Young Academy for Sciences. It is organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, in partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation, the Goethe-Institut Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This exhibition uses storytelling to show the common influences, shared ideas, and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and Germany.

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Abdulrahim Salim: Between Chaos & Serenity

Abdulrahim Salim: Between Chaos and Serenity is a review of the major paintings of sculptor and painter Abdulrahim Salim, investigating his repeating narratives and the scope of his artistic expression. The exhibition, divided into six chapters – Formations, Creation and Destruction, Conversations, Struggle and Waiting, Formations of Maheerah, and Me and She and the Apple and the Crow – delves into Salim’s investigation of dualistic subjects and their inner conflict or struggle, alternating between the figurative and the abstract.

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Maheerah Exhibition

Maheerah brings together figurative and multimedia artists to celebrate Abdulrahim Salim’s work and influence through a reimagining of one of his recurring themes centered on his muse, Maheerah. Ten multimedia artists bring Maheerah to life in short videos, while 25 figurative artists depict her in oil, water, and acrylic portraits.

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Wonder Writers

Wonder Writers is a collection of short stories by students from the 12 Aldar Academies in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, chosen from an Arabic creative writing competition held during the 2019-2020 academic year. The winning pieces span from investigations of the young writers’ knowledge of social, cultural, and environmental issues to meditations on a student’s daily struggles, an exciting action adventure in unknown jungles, and much more.

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The Red Palace Exhibition

The Red Palace is inspired by the historical 20th century ‘Red Palace’ and its involvement in Saudi Arabia’s significant historical and political events of the time. Artist Sultan Bin Fahad collects mementos, relics, and discarded things from diverse sites to create sculptures and installations that investigate the transforming ability of the ruin to stand in for what has been lost and its reformulation within the country’s social metamorphosis.

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The Common Ground Exhibition

Inspired by The Red Palace exhibition, this group exhibition examines the shared ground between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a modern way that resonates with the younger generation. Participating artists include Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri, Amna Al Memari, Ghanem Younes, Khalid Al Tamimi, Maha Al Hammadi, Maryam Al Suwaidi, Mattia Gambardella, Renad Hussein, Roudha Al Shamsi, Saoud Al Dhaheri, Sarah Aladayleh, Shamsa AlOmaira, and Wafa Al Qasaimi.

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Najat Makki Exhibition: Luminescence

This inaugural solo exhibition at the Cultural Foundation showcases the diverse work of one of the UAE’s prominent painters, Najat Makki. The artist’s career as an abstract painter and colorist has been marked by her use of vibrant colors in a distinct style.

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The Tribute: A memorial to Najat Makki

This memorial exhibition of Najat Makki, featuring 19 Emirati artists, is a way for them to express their love and devotion for her, whether through portraits or various painting genres and techniques on canvasses as large as two meters square.

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Abu Dhabi Children’s Library Exhibit

The debut display at the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library focuses on the significance of pop-up and moveable books in reading. A pop-up book is a sort of moveable book that uses paper mechanisms to pop up or move as the reader turns the page or manipulates it. They are engineering marvels meant to captivate readers of all ages. The exhibition reimagines UAE authors’ and illustrators’ stories as 3-D immersive and interactive learning places to capture children’s imaginations.

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Public Programme

An enriching public program featuring artist talks, seminars, master classes, guided tours, curated film screenings, and other creative activities.

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UAE Art Exhibitions continue to thrive, offering a dynamic platform for creativity and cultural exchange. With non-profit art spaces and initiatives like Abu Dhabi Art – Discover, the region fosters emerging talents and provides artist commissions each year at Art Dubai. Upcoming exhibitions promise to showcase diverse mediums, including digital art, ensuring that every visit offers something new and exciting. As annual art events like World Art Dubai gain momentum, the UAE becomes a global hub for artistic innovation and expression.