August is going to be exciting for all types of art lovers in the region. As usual, we have selected several exhibitions which may catch your eye. This time, our top 10 almost entirely consists of group shows, so do not miss your chance to see works by a cohort of talented artists!
1. On a Timeline: 2024 MFA Graduate Show
Marking the third year of collaboration between 421 Arts Campus and NYUAD, this exhibition displays projects by students completing the two-year Master of Fine Arts in Art and Media at NYUAD: Sara Alahbabi, Ciel Arbour-Boehme, Zara Mahmood, Fatima Al Romaithi, and Farah Soltani. The displayed artworks demonstrate the research and experimentation of their creators, who visualise questions and ideas in ways that provide valuable insights into our contemporary global condition. On view at 421 Arts Campus, the show will end on 25 August 2024.
2. Exhibition at Urbanist Art Gallery
In February 2024, the Urbanist Art Gallery launched a show presenting a special curation of four Syrian creatives. On view until 26 August 2024, it features sculptures created by acclaimed sculptor Mustafa Ali; artist Rima Salamoun’s expressive paintings; artist Imad Habbab’s works reflecting the amalgamation of human and urban relationships within each other; and Norrem Hamdi’s art pieces portraying the natural world.
3. Made in Tashkeel 2024
The Tashkeel art centre presents the 14th iteration of Made in Tashkeel, its annual exhibition that embodies the prowess of the centre’s creative community. Works by more than 100 artists and designers from the Emirates, as well as other countries, are exhibited at FN Designs. Curated by HH Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Tashkeel Founder and Director, the show will run through 27 August 2024.
4. Sevil Dolmaci Dubai: Unreal Realities
The Unreal Realities exhibition organised by Sevil Dolmaci Dubai features such artists as Robert Janitz, Ekrem Yalçındağ, Ahmet Oran, Fuse*, Ali Nassir, Nejat Satı, Jacopo Di Cera, Gençay Aytekin, Ryaskartstyle (Dmitry Mironov), Fabrizio Plessi, Igor Skaletsky, and Sinan Saül. On display until 30 August 2024, the show explores the interplay between the essence of nature and the juxtaposition of the unreal world created by human imagination.
5. Tasmeem at ICD Brookfield Place
ICD Brookfield Place is currently showcasing posters by 13 winners of the latest edition of Tasmeem, its annual graphic design exhibition and competition. With Memory Box as the show’s theme, artists were asked to create a design that reflected and translated cultural memories into a visual language that would evoke nostalgia, wonder, and belonging. The exhibition will be available for viewing until 30 August 2024.
6. Khawla Art Gallery: Summer Collective
Khawla Art Gallery presents Summer Collective, an exhibition featuring diverse creatives from the MENA region. Among the participants are Abdelkrim Mancer, Fadi Balhawan, Ghalia Kalaji, Maryam Bin Bishr, Nadia Azawi, and Reem Al Dhaheri, to mention a few. Displaying a full range of art pieces, the show aims to inspire young collectors to explore and invest in MENA art. You will be able to see this exhibition until 31 August 2024.
7. Summer Collective: Lens & Light: Moments in Focus
Meanwhile, Ayyam Gallery is hosting its yearly show, Summer Collective. This year, the theme is Lens & Light: Moments in Focus; on display are evocative photographic works by such artists as Ammar al-Beik, Sama Alshaibi, Huda Baydoun, Majid Koorang Beheshti, Ammar Abd Rabbo, Faisal Samra, Rula Halawani, Nassouh Zaghlouleh, and Tammam Azzam. The last day of the exhibition will be 31 August 2024.
8. Every Colour is a Shade of Black by Hamra Abbas
This eye-catching public artwork, which is being showcased at Alserkal Avenue until 31 August 2024, was produced by Pakistani artist Hamra Abbas. It is titled after the eponymous concept she has developed over several years, starting with Kaaba Picture as a Misprint (2014), in which she employed cyan, magenta, and yellow to create black. It symbolised the Kaaba’s identity. The artist says that she thought back then: “If the three primary colours can create black, and the same primary colours in various combinations can create all the other colours, then one can surely conclude that every colour is a shade of black”.
9. Recap Exhibition at Artbooth Gallery
Hosted by the Artbooth Gallery, this show displays creations of such esteemed artists as Asaad Arabi, Jamal Bassiouni, Gilbert Halaby, Oussama Diab, Hussein Baalbaki, Kusay Bader, Wadei Khaled, Noor Bahjat, Caleen Ladki, Akil Ahmad, and Walid El Masri. It will be open to the public until 5 September 2024.
10. In-Between by Nasser Almulhim
In-Between is a solo exhibition by Saudi artist Nasser Almulhim taking place at Tabari Artspace. Delving into the human psyche, it features his latest series of paintings inspired by psychologist Carl Jung’s concept of shadow work that highlights the importance of confronting one’s hidden aspects for self-awareness and inner peace. The show welcomes all visitors until 6 September 2024.
In addition, you might be interested in seeing the Laal Collection Volume II, an exhibition at Total Arts presenting Fereydoun Ave’s collection.
