The 16th edition of Abu Dhabi Art is the largest yet, featuring over 100 galleries while bridging the Global South with the global art scene. The fair amplifies the voices of underrepresented artists and introduces new sections highlighting modern regional art, historical artifacts, and art from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Abu Dhabi Art 2024 is evolving beyond the traditional art fair model through initiatives like The Gateway and Beyond Emerging Artists programs, which highlight new talent and foster intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Curated by Carine Harmand and Odessa Warren, this year’s Gateway exhibition, Otra Orilla (Another Shore), delves into the cultural connections between the Arab world and Latin America. Featuring works by Emilia Estrada, Alia Farid, Francisca Khamis Giacoman, Ishtar Yasin Gutiérrez, and Mandy El-Sayegh, the show uses textile, moving image, and installation to intertwine the personal and political, often reflecting diasporic experiences.
Beyond Emerging Artists, curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi, presents new commissions by Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid, and Simrin Mehra Agarwal. Al Ali explores historical power dynamics through archival documents and oral histories, Khorchid inverts landscape elements to evoke statelessness, and Agarwal’s installation draws from undersea research expeditions. These works will travel internationally after the fair, broadening their impact.
Leila Heller Gallery and CARBON 12 draw large crowds, with Leila Heller presenting works by Shirin Neshat, Mouna Rebeiz, and Wassef Boutros-Ghali, while CARBON 12 features Bernhard Buhmann and rising star Sarah Almehairi, whose pieces are housed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Efie Gallery makes its debut, showcasing Dr. Mohamed Yousif, El Anatsui, and Abdoulaye Konaté, whose works are also part of the “In and Around” segment. Prices for the artworks range from $16,000 to $700,000.
The Beyond Emerging Artists section, curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi, gains attention with Simrin Mehra-Agarwal’s widely shared work. JPS Gallery’s solo installation by b.wing and Lucie Chang Fine Arts’ neon aquarium by Angel Hui captivate visitors, with works priced between $2,700 and $3,800.
South Asian galleries like Galerie Isa, 1×1 Art Gallery, and Aicon Contemporary also stand out. Galerie Isa presents Ian Malhotra, Diana Al Hadid, and Idris Khan, while 1×1 showcases Theo Pinto’s solo show. Aicon displays Sarah Farid’s pieces, featured in the 2024 Venice Biennale, with works priced from $4,000 to $85,000.
Abu Dhabi’s commitment to the arts is further demonstrated by the launch of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, showcasing installations by 70 artists, including Daniel Buren and Farah Al Qasimi, in the city’s downtown. Fair Director Dyala Nusseibeh emphasized the UAE’s growing art ecosystem, while art historian Sundaram Tagore pointed to the city’s upcoming cultural institutions as a key draw for global galleries.
Abu Dhabi Art’s recent transformation has fueled speculation about a potential Art Basel takeover in 2025, with rumors of a $20 million price tag. Given the UAE’s growing art influence, including the Saadiyat Cultural District and ADQ’s $1 billion Sotheby’s investment, this move seems likely.
