Art fairs can be overwhelming, between the endless booths, buzzing crowds, and so much to see in so little time. To make your visit easier (and way more fun), I’ve done the legwork for you. Below are 5 standout booths you need to check out if you’re heading to Art Dubai this year. Trust me, you’ll want these on your radar.
Exhibition Artist: Saj Issa
Title: Never Make a Wish in a Dry Well
Section: Contemporary
Palestinian American artist Saj Issa views ceramics as intimate repositories of touch, memory, and myth. In Never Make a Wish in a Dry Well, she borrows from an old adage, at once evoking the futility of ungrounded desires and the layered depth beneath surfaces that appear barren. The metaphorical dry well in Issa’s work is not, however, empty; it’s charged with hidden histories and the artist’s present-day encounters.
Artist(s): Manal Mahamid & Laila Shawa
Section: Modern
Gallery One, a contemporary art gallery based in Ramallah, was founded in 2013 by independent curator Samar Martha. With a mission to foster interest in Palestinian art, the gallery serves as a platform for showcasing both modern and contemporary Palestinian art to local and international audiences.
Since its inception, Gallery One has actively supported the extensive artistic talent within Palestine, contributing to the foundation of a modern art movement and advancing contemporary art. The gallery regularly features artists whose innovative work pushes the boundaries of contemporary art. Beyond its Ramallah location, Gallery One has established an international presence by participating in prominent art fairs across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Istanbul, Beirut, and Lyon.
Artist(s): Hussein Madi, Dario Perez Flores, Alfred Basbous
Section: Modern
In 1996 Mark Hachem opened his first contemporary art gallery in the heart of Paris, in the Marais. The opening of a second gallery followed, eleven years later, when Hachem inaugurated his Madison Avenue location in New York. Since the successful opening of the Beirut gallery in 2010, Mark Hachem’s engagement with the artistic currents of the Middle Eastern and Asian market has increased and flourished. Over the past two decades, the gallery has exposed prestigious artists, initially distinguishing itself from other Parisian galleries for its interest in Kinetic art. Mark Hachem exhibits prestigious artists of the Op Art movement. The gallery takes part in prestigious contemporary art fairs around the world. With more than 200 exhibitions to his credit, Mark Hachem Gallery has acquired a robust international reputation for its dynamism and professionalism. An ardent defender of contemporary art, Mark Hachem is also an adviser to public institutions and private collectors.
Artist(s): Thaier Helal, Elias Izoli, Ali Kaaf, Kais Salman
Section: Contemporary
Founded in 2006, Ayyam Gallery is a leading arts organization that manages both established and emerging artists. Although originally based in Syria, Ayyam has expanded its ventures into London, Jeddah, and Beirut, with its blue-chip art space in Dubai acting as its permanent home.
Ayyam Gallery is deeply committed to nurturing the growth of its artists, offering them substantial opportunities for visibility through projects that foster dialogue between various cultural and artistic bodies. The Gallery hosts an extensive program of group and solo exhibitions showcasing a wide range of mediums and messages that highlight the diverse voices of the region, including figures such as Samia Halaby, Faisal Samra, Safwan Dahoul, Sama Alshaibi, and Kais Salman.
Artist: Ibrahim El Dessouki
Section: Contemporary
Established by Qaswra Hafez with the mission to bolster the Saudi art scene and facilitate local talents, Hafez Gallery has been the catalyst of many pioneering and emerging Saudi artists since 2014. The gallery runs a program of exhibitions and shows from a wide selection of established Arab artists, ranging from Syria, to Egypt, to Sudan, and to Lebanon. Hafez also collaborate with international artists, however, to boost the accessibility of regional Saudi work to the rest of the world. The gallery aims to expand its reach and showcase Saudi visual culture and arts both regionally and internationally, as it maintains the efforts to broaden its influence in the community.
