Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Abu Dhabi Art, an influential platform for the burgeoning MENASA art scene, is welcoming exhibitor applications from galleries across the globe for the 14th edition of its annual art fair, taking place from the 16th to the 20th of November, 2022 at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

Following a strong return of sales for the fair after the pandemic in 2021, new and returning galleries are invited to submit proposals via the Abu Dhabi Art website for the upcoming edition in 2022. The sectors open for exhibitors to apply for include, Modern and Contemporary, which is open to Modern and Contemporary galleries who have been operating for at least 7 years; Special Projects, where galleries can present solo or two artist presentations, and must have been operating for at least 3 years; and Focus, galleries in this sector are invited to participate with specific artists chosen by a guest curator.

Exhibitors will present their artworks at Manarat Al Saadiyat, in what is increasingly recognised as a boutique curator-led fair, connecting with the richly diverse and multi-national audiences, including collectors, patrons and art enthusiasts who convene around this flagship art event in the city, whilst also exploring the offsite projects around the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which comprise part of the wider year-round programming of Abu Dhabi Art. The annual art fair, held each November, is the culmination of Abu Dhabi Art’s year-round visual arts programme, which includes artist residencies, artist commissions and exhibitions, along with strong education outreach.

Abu Dhabi Art has also announced the selection of Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi, who was recently featured in The New York Times, as this year’s visual campaign artist. Each year, Abu Dhabi Art selects and collaborates with UAE-based artists to create a visual campaign for the fair that closely links to the UAE’s cultural and creative ecosystem. The campaign serves the dual purpose of also enabling a wider audience to discover the works of the guest artist.

Al Qasimi’s recent works challenge the viewer to consider their own understanding of reality, aspiration, individuality, and the reflected image.

Previous UAE-based artists who have participated in the art fair’s annual visual campaign include Ayesha Hadhir, Rawdha Khalifa Al Ketbi, Shaikha Fahad Al Ketbi (2021), Ebtisam Abdulaziz (2019), Monira Al Qadiri (2018) and Tarek Al-Ghoussein (2017), among others.

Source: Emirates News Agency