The region is buzzing with a rich array of art shows this month, offering everything from large-scale installations to intimate explorations of culture, nature, and identity. As usual, we have selected several exhibits that provide a window into the diverse art practices shaping the region. Here are our top 10 exhibitions on view in January 2025.
1. Night Stone by Candice Lin
Until 12 January 2025, Jameel Arts Centre is hosting Night Stone, a solo exhibition by American artist Candice Lin that features her eponymous large-scale installation and her latest works. The installation examines the contemporary manganese trade between Australia and China, drawing connections to the 18th-century commerce of sea cucumbers. The artist’s fascination with the unique digestive and respiratory systems of these creatures inspires a narrative of their toxic interaction with manganese.
2. Metempsychosis by Zeinab Al Hashemi
Metempsychosis: The Soul’s Journey Through Material is a solo exhibition by Emirati conceptual artist Zeinab Al Hashemi, who is known for her large-scale site-specific installations. On view at Leila Heller Gallery until 15 January 2025, the show reflects on themes of transformation and healing. The exhibited works explore the interplay between raw industrial materials and personal experience, rooted in the artist’s response to a life-altering car accident.
3. Benchellal: Monumental “sculpting past tomorrow”
The National Museum of Qatar presents Benchellal: Monumental “sculpting past tomorrow,” a solo exhibition by Moroccan-Dutch designer Mohamed Benchellal. It showcases a new collection of couture dresses inspired by Qatar’s landscapes, designed during Benchellal’s residency at Liwan Design Studios and Labs. The exhibition, which will be open to the public until 18 January 2025, highlights his commitment to sustainability and the art of slow fashion.
4. FEVER by Christiane Peschek
NIKA Project Space is holding FEVER, a multisensory exhibition by Austrian artist Christiane Peschek. Merging themes of global warming and techno-shamanism, she explores the convergence of technology, spirituality, and nature. The show delves into extreme emotional and physical experiences influenced by environmental changes and will end on 18 January 2025.
5. Citadelles of Today by Chaouki Choukini
Green Art Gallery is showcasing the art of Lebanese-born artist Chaouki Choukini. The exhibition titled Citadelles of Today features his latest wooden sculptures, paying tribute to the architectural heritage of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. One will be able to have a look at Choukini’s intricate and unconventional creations until 20 January 2025.
6. What We See of Things is the Things by Edgar Orlaineta
CARBON 12 features What We See of Things is the Things, Mexican artist Edgar Orlaineta’s solo exhibition. Through his new works, Orlaineta examines philosophical questions of perception and essence, challenging traditional notions of art and materiality. His exploration reveals new meanings in the interaction between objects and their interpretations. The exhibition will be open to the public until 25 January 2025.
7. No Scheherazade by Farhad Ahrarnia
Meanwhile, Lawrie Shabibi is home to No Scheherazade, a solo exhibition by Iranian-British artist Farhad Ahrarnia. Renowned for his embroidered photography and wood inlay techniques, Ahrarnia juxtaposes these with an immersive backdrop inspired by Prince’s 1987 video Sign O’The Times. The show is a vibrant exploration of 1980s culture, blending critique and celebration, and will remain open until 28 January 2025.
8. Solo Exhibition by Sohan Qadri
Until 31 January 2025, 1X1 Art Gallery is displaying the works of famous Indian artist Sohan Qadri (1932-2011). This retrospective immerses visitors in Qadri’s spiritual and meditative art, where abstraction and transcendence converge. Featuring vibrant colours and rhythmic patterns, the exhibition takes one on an almost hypnotic journey into the artist’s creative world.
9. Native: Plants in the UAE Exhibition
The Cultural Foundation’s Native: Plants in the UAE exhibition examines the living conditions of indigenous Emirati flora, emphasising their ecological significance. With contributions from 19 artists, the exhibit highlights the resilience and adaptability of native plants, blending scientific insights with artistic interpretations. It will welcome all visitors until 8 March 2025.
10. Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial
Organised by NYUAD Art Gallery, Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial is a collective exhibition spotlighting 21 artists and collectives from across the GCC. This inaugural edition, which runs through 20 April 2025, explores themes of urbanisation, environmental change, heritage, and identity, showcasing the region’s evolving artistic landscape in a recurring event held every five years.
In addition, you might be interested in visiting Sambadio, African artist Abdoulaye Konaté’s solo show.
