This month offers a variety of exciting opportunities for art lovers to engage with the region’s vibrant art scene. So as usual, we present our top 10 exhibitions running throughout October and beyond that we consider worth visiting. The list features solo and group shows from international and regional artists which invite you to delve into themes ranging from cultural heritage and environmental reflection to the blending of physical and digital spaces.
1. Dr Mohamed Yousif and Maggie Otieno: Solace in Soil
Efiɛ Gallery is hosting Solace in Soil, a duo exhibition by Dr Mohamed Yousif, one of the UAE’s pioneering sculptors, and Kenyan artist Maggie Otieno. It examines the deep-rooted connections within their artistic and highlights the cross-cultural exchange between the Middle East and Africa. Curated by Shamma Al Mheiri, the show will be open to the public until 6 October 2024.
2. Homepage by Mouza Al Hamrani
Tashkeel presents Homepage, a solo exhibition by UAE-based illustrator and multimedia artist Mouza Al Hamrani, celebrating the conclusion of her Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme (CPP). The show reimagines early Khaleeji cyberspace, transforming digital ephemera into a physical experience. Bridging the virtual and physical realms, Al Hamrani captures the impact of Khaleeji cyberspace as it entered modern culture and celebrates the online anonymity it provided during the early internet era in the GCC. On view at FN Designs, the exhibition will end on 15 October 2024.
3. Salt-Kissed: Of Vessels That Have Sailed The Red Sea
This exhibition narrates the untold stories of eight ships that once sailed the Red Sea, exploring the dynamic relationship between the sea and its environment. Visitors can have a look at works by 13 artists including Monira AlQadiri, Ruba Al-Sweel, Marie Grismar, Huda Tayob, and Fatima Uzdenova, among others. On display at Hayy Jameel, the exhibition will end on 26 October 2024.
4. Moving Mountains by Ahaad Alamoudi
While visiting Hayy Jameel, you should also visit Moving Mountains, a solo show by Saudi artist Ahaad Alamoudi that brings together her creations from the past eight years alongside her latest commission, Moving Mountains, which serves as the centrepiece. This new artwork continues Alamoudi’s exploration of evolving social and cultural environments, situating Saudi’s natural and urban landscapes as sites where individual and collective attempts to do the seemingly impossible are infused with humour, absurdity, and, at times, hopefulness. The exhibition will close on 26 October 2024.
5. I Wish To Be Happy, I Want To Be Yellow
Meanwhile, Gallery Isabelle presents I Wish To Be Happy, I Want To Be Yellow, a collective exhibition featuring Mohammad Alfaraj, Aminah Al Huqail, Dalia Baassiri, Richi Bhatia, Jumairy, Tamara Kalo, Adrian Pepe, and Alia Zaal. Cultivating an intimate relationship with nature, they blur boundaries between presence and absence, fullness and lack, past and present, engaging in rites that foster creation, fertility, and renewal. The show will run through 28 October 2024.
6. Paths of Transcendence by Safdar Ali Qureshi
On view at 1X1 Art Gallery, Paths of Transcendence is Pakistani artist Safdar Ali Qureshi’s solo exhibition showcasing his intricate paintings. In these pieces blending Impressionist techniques with abstraction, the artist reflects on the complex relationship between nature, humanity, and memory, particularly in response to floods in Sindh. The show welcomes all visitors until 31 October 2024.
7. ECHOES by Rajnish Kaur
1X1 Art Gallery is also holding ECHOES, Indian artist Rajnish Kaur’s first solo exhibition in the Middle East. It features 12 canvases and 40 paper works that merge abstract expressionism with sensory experience, capturing urban vibrancy and contemplative moments through an emotive exploration of colour and form. The exhibition will be open to the public until 31 October 2024.
8. Andy Warhol, The Glam Factory
Until 31 October 2024, Foundry Downtown Dubai is hosting Andy Warhol, The Glam Factory, an exhibition tracing this renowned artist’s journey from his early days in illustration to his role as a leader in the Pop Art movement. One can explore a collection of more than 100 artworks, which are on display for the first time in the UAE. These include screen prints, photographs, and magazines that offer a glimpse into Warhol’s portrayal of American society from the 1960s to the 1980s.
9. Bound: Textiles Between Loss and Repair
This group exhibition featuring five artists (Dana Awartani, Jumana Manna, Hana Miletić, Dala Nasser, and Khalil Rabah) explores the nurturing and healing qualities of fabric and reflects on how textiles play a role in processes of mourning, care, and healing. On display at Green Art Gallery, the exhibition will end on 2 November 2024.
10. Fragility and Resilience by Ayesha Sultana
Ishara Art Foundation is currently home to Fragility and Resilience, Bangladeshi artist Ayesha Sultana’s first solo show in the Gulf region. It investigates the delicate balance between vulnerability and strength in the context of our planet’s challenges, inviting one on a journey of discovery and reflection. The exhibition will be open to the public until 7 December 2024.
In addition, you might be interested in attending the Reflections & Inspirations from Emirati Heritage exhibition at the Sharjah Heritage Museum.
To stay tuned and be sure that you will not miss our latest art news, you can join our Telegram channel.
