The Aisha Alabbar Gallery is delighted to present I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?, a new solo exhibition by the artist Shama Al Hamed curated by Walter Williams. Running from February 4 to April 5, 2025, this exhibition invites visitors to explore a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations, all centered around the artist’s personal journey. Through these works, the artist reveals a deeper understanding of the emotional experiences that have shaped her art style.
The exhibition’s title serves as a metaphor for movement — fluidly shifting through time, emotions, and experiences. Each piece reflects Al Hamed’s continuous effort to navigate and transcend the spaces that have defined her, shaping her identity, whether through moments of joy or quiet defiance. A central theme in her work is the integration of architectural motifs, inspired by photographs of the buildings that surrounded her during childhood. These elements, transformed through repetition, create a dream-like quality, illustrating how physical spaces influence her artistic approach.
This immersive exhibition offers visitors the chance to engage with the rich textures and forms that characterize her work. Additionally, an illustrated catalog will be available, providing further insight into her artistic vision.
The exhibition also features the poem of Shama AI Hamed:
I Jump With Joy, My Spirit Soars
I Jump to Dream, Through Open Doors
I Jump Over Hurdles, Steady and True
I Jump at Dawn, When Skies Blush Blue
I Jump From Block to Block With Ease
I Jump in the Light of a Golden Breeze
I Jump Through Shadows That Fade Away
I Jump to the Rhythm of Life’s Sweet Call
I Jump to Rise, Though I May Fall
I Jump Through Whispers of the Wind’s Embrace
I Jump Toward Stars in Endless Space
I Jump With Hope, My Heart Takes Flight
I Jump to Love, My Guiding Light
About the artist
Shama Al Hamed (b. 1999, Abu Dhabi) is a visual artist who earned her Bachelor of Visual Arts degree from the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University (Abu Dhabi, 2022). She later pursued an MA in Contemporary Art Practice at the Royal College of Art, an experience that, in her own words, profoundly influenced and reshaped her art style.
Her work revolves around a range of techniques, all deeply connected to significant moments in her life. Moving between painting and installation, she primarily explores self-portraiture as a means of illustrating the evolution of her thoughts. Each piece tells a different story, blending observation with the dreamlike qualities of the subconscious. Painting remains her main medium, where she transforms patterns into art, embedding each piece with a unique narrative. Through this approach, she offers a deeply personal exploration of identity and transformation.
The artist has taken part in various exhibitions, such as Fruit Salad (NYU Crit Club, New York, USA, 2025); Editions, Dubai (Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Dubai, 2024); Narratives of Belonging (AI Safa Library, Dubai, 2024); a solo show at Abu Dhabi Art Fair (Manarat Al Saadiyat, 2022); and Painting II (Promenade Gallery, Zayed University, Dubai, 2021).
To get more information about I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?, please go to its official web page.
You might also be interested in viewing Samur by Chinese artist Zheng Bo.
