Abu Dhabi Art Fair 2022 showcases amazing artists

Check out cutting-edge exhibitions, from the metaverse to North Africa.

Art lovers, unite. The Abu Dhabi Art Fair has returned to the UAE capital, and brings together 900 works from more than 300 artists. Now in its 14th year, the festival takes place from 16 to 20 November and, best of all, it’s free. 

Located on Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Art Fair includes 80 galleries from 28 countries, and has more than 900 pieces of art available. The festival is welcoming 33 new galleries from Columbia, France, Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Turkey, Tunisia, South Korea and the UAE.

Guest curators for Abu Dhabi Art Fair include gallerist Jade Yeşim Turanli from Pi Artworks, and journalist Riccarda Mandrini. Jade has bought together artists from Turkey, and Riccarda has drawn on galleries from around the world, ranging from Bologna’s Mazzoleni to Milan’s Dep Art Gallery. 

Exhibition highlights include My Life in the Metaverse, which has been curated by the Egyptian born artist Dr Omar Kholeif. The multimedia exhibition is guided by his alter ego Dr O, and features international artists. New Tomorrows showcases work by artists from North Africa, which have been curated by art historian Rachida Triki. 

Abu Dhabi Art Fair also gives emerging artists a platform, and this year it includes Majd Alloush, Mohamed Khalid and Sarah Al Mehairi. The festival pays tribute to the late Iranian artist Farideh Lashai with Afloat Over Undulations, too. Best known for her abstract art, the exhibition brings to life her work through six video installations. Plus, other artists on display include Cory Arcangel, Simon Denny, Paul Heyer, Haroon Mirza, Trevor Paglen, Heather Phillipson and Andy Warhol. 

Rita Aoun, executive director of culture at the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, explains: “The Department of Culture and Tourism is more than ever working to cultivate a cultural ecosystem and embrace culture as a lived experience, advancing it as a public good, and protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions to achieve sustainable goals.”

 We’re on board. 

GO: Visit www.abudhabiart.ae/en for more information.