Abu Dhabi Art to take place on November 20

The 16th Abu Dhabi Art will take place from November 20-24 at Manarat Al Saadiyat under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Organised by Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Art will feature Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem as this year’s Visual Campaign Artist, acknowledging his role in shaping the UAE’s art scene.

The 16th edition of Art Abu Dhabi features over 100 local and international galleries, offering a rich cultural and artistic experience. This year’s event introduces new sections featuring modern regional artists and showcasing works from Central Asia and the Caucasus, to foster cross-cultural exchange. The event also presents unique collections of historical artifacts and collectibles, appealing to art and collectibles enthusiasts worldwide.

The Abu Dhabi Art fair is a catalyst for the burgeoning UAE art market, which is increasingly culturally networked throughout the Global South.

The annual fair is the culmination of Abu Dhabi Art’s year-long programme, which includes artist residencies, artist commissions and exhibitions, and a strong educational outreach. The Visual Campaign Artist creates the visual identity for the fair each year. The appointment of Mohammed Kazem as the Visual Campaign Artist for 2024 is testament to the role he has played as a pioneering artist who has supported the art community for more than two decades.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said, “The arts have long been a cornerstone of Emirati culture, and Abu Dhabi Art plays a vital role in showcasing our cultural identity to the world. Events like the annual art fair, along with awards such as this, open up new avenues for creativity and expression, while fostering artistic talent at every level, from grassroots level to global prominence. Mohammed Kazem has been a key figure in the UAE’s art scene, and we are delighted that he has accepted the honour of being Abu Dhabi Art’s Visual Campaign Artist this year.”

As described by Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde, Kazem “has developed an artistic practice that encompasses video, photography and performance to find new ways of apprehending his environment and experiences. The foundations of his work are informed by his training as a musician, and Kazem is deeply engaged with developing processes that can render transient phenomena, such as sound and light, in tangible terms.”

Mohammed Kazem said, “I’m pleased to have been chosen to create the visual campaign for this edition of Abu Dhabi Art. I look forward to meeting artists from around the world at the fair, to seeing new artworks and discovering new art techniques, to attending the related events and seeing new commissions from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.”