Vasari Codex. A living chronicle of the art world.

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 13, 2026

From brink to sync: Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi conjures harmony from chaos

Emirati visual artist Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi is presenting her second solo exhibition, 'Mind Chaos,' at Lavish Cafe & Art Gallery, Wasl 51, running until the 15th. The show transforms abstract inner noise into visual experiences, exploring the relationship between disorder and creation through intricate patterns and surreal elements. In an interview, Alhashmi discusses how art became her voice, bridging her introverted inner world with external expression, and emphasizes that true creativity lies in balancing chaos with harmony.

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 1, 2026

Ukrainians seek cultural escape from war’s brutality, find comfort at art fair

The article reports on the second edition of the Kyiv Art Fair, held at the Lavra gallery in Kyiv, where Ukrainian artists are using their work to process the trauma of Russia's ongoing invasion. Artists like Olena Kharakhulakh, who turned to full-time art after a missile strike near her home killed 45 people, and Vlada Lobus, who fled to Poland, display collages and photography that reflect fragmentation, loss, and reconstruction. The fair continues despite the war, which has killed at least 346 artists and displaced millions.

museum exhibitions schedule May 30, 2026

A tale of many cities: Art Smiley Gallery hosts John Railton’s works

Art Smiley Gallery in Dubai is presenting 'The Theatre of Life,' a major solo exhibition by British contemporary artist John Railton, running from June 6 to 11. The show features an extensive collection of figurative paintings created over the past decade, depicting everyday life in public spaces across cities such as Cairo, Kolkata, Marrakech, and Kuwait City. Railton's work transforms ordinary urban scenes into cinematic visual narratives, exploring themes of memory, resilience, and human connection through richly layered compositions.

museum exhibitions schedule May 26, 2026

Art4you Gallery’s tribute exhibition to women closes at Art Smiley Art Gallery

Art4you Gallery hosted 'Her Story – A Tribute to Women, Edition 2' at Art Smiley Art Gallery in Dubai from May 10–15. The international group exhibition featured 21 artists from 16 countries, presenting works in canvas, installation, and mixed media that explored themes of identity, strength, memory, and womanhood. Curated by Jesno Jackson, the show aimed to create a living archive of women's stories, with participating artists including Cristina Gabriela, Seungeun Cho, Vasilisa Eliseeva, Natasha Boshoff, and others from diverse cultural backgrounds.

museum exhibitions schedule May 19, 2026

Palette of flowers: Nada Al Barazi hosts ‘Gardens’ solo exhibition at Intent Gallery

Internationally acclaimed artist Nada Al Barazi presented her solo exhibition 'Gardens' at Intent Gallery in Dubai from May 9 to 13. The show featured a contemplative body of work exploring nature as an emotional and introspective experience, with layered textures, expressive color, and organic forms that invite viewers to reflect on memory, transformation, and renewal. Al Barazi, a holder of the UAE Golden Visa from Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, is recognized for her contributions to contemporary art in the Emirates and globally.

museum exhibitions schedule May 16, 2026

Show White: Academy of Visual Arts, University of the Arts Sharjah exhibition

The Academy of Visual Arts at the University of the Arts Sharjah is presenting a faculty exhibition titled 'Show White,' curated by Tor Seidel and assisted by Maryam AlQassimi. The show, first hosted at Rawaq Gallery (April 8–23) and currently at XVA Gallery in Al Fahidi (April 25–May 21), explores the multifaceted concept of 'white' through diverse mediums and techniques. Participating faculty artists include Georgina Abood, Dr. Mohammed Yousif Alhammadi, Muatasim Alkubaisy, Alina Erimia, Muhammad Asad Iqbal, Thaier Helal, Dr. Iman Ibrahim, and Andreea Lonhardt-Muresan, each presenting works that engage with white as a symbol of minimalism, purity, emptiness, or cultural memory.

museum exhibitions schedule May 4, 2026

Tenacious: Funun Arts Group and Novotel Sharjah Expo Center join hands for show

Funun Arts Group, in collaboration with Novotel Sharjah Expo Center, launched the fourth chapter of its Epochs of Art series titled 'Light in Motion: Impressionism to Post-Impressionism' at the hotel in Sharjah, UAE. The exhibition runs from April 24 to June 24 and was inaugurated by artist-guests including Ahmed Al Awadhi, Abdul Jabbar Weiss, Majd Faraj, and Anjini Prakash Laitu, alongside Robin Solomon, General Manager of Novotel Sharjah Expo Center. The event featured an immersive meditative painting session and direct artist-visitor interactions, showcasing works by international artists exploring the interplay of light, movement, and emotion.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 30, 2026

Tashkeel offers a shoulder to Moza Al Falasi in her debut solo exhibition

Tashkeel, a Dubai-based art organization founded in 2008 by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is presenting "Unfolding," the debut solo exhibition by Emirati artist Moza Al Falasi. Opening May 12 at Tashkeel's Nad Al Sheba 1 Gallery, the show marks the culmination of Al Falasi's participation in the Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme (CPP), where she was mentored by Luisa Menano and Hanaa Bou Hamdan. The exhibition explores memory, loss, and the passing of time through photography, sound, painting, plaster, and fabric, reflecting on inherited grief and personal loss, including the deaths of her parents and husband.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 26, 2026

IFAC provides pathway to folk art show in Mumbai through ‘Harshit’ exhibition

Dubai-based Indian Folk Art Corridor (IFAC) held its first-ever exhibition in Mumbai, titled 'Harshit — Experience the Joy of Indian Arts' (April 6–11). The show featured 30 artists—15 from the UAE and 15 from India—curated by IFAC founder Vidisha Pandey. It showcased diverse Indian folk and tribal art forms including Kalighat, Madhubani, Sohrai, Bhil, Warli, Pichwai, Miniature, Jogi, Manjusha, and Tholu art. Dignitaries such as Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar, singer Anup Jalota, and actress Sadhna Singh attended. Several artworks were acquired, including a Tholu piece by Shelar and two works by Shoma Banerjee purchased by Jalota; Pandey's works were placed at the Ministry of Culture in Mumbai.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 23, 2026

Selling exhibition to support art: Déjà Vu at Alserkal heralds joint initiative

A multi-gallery selling exhibition titled 'Déjà Vu' opens at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue on April 25, running for 14 days. The exhibition features over 50 artists from 20 leading UAE contemporary art galleries and is curated by Kevin Jones, Nada Raza, and Zaina Zaarour. It is designed as a commercial initiative to support galleries impacted by recent events.

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 15, 2026

The Third Line presents Anuar Khalifi's Remember the Future solo show

The Third Line gallery in Dubai is presenting 'Remember the Future', the third solo exhibition by Spanish-Moroccan artist Anuar Khalifi, running from January 17 to March 1. The show features large-scale paintings and works on paper that blend reality and imagination, drawing on magical realism, art history, and poetry. Khalifi’s works incorporate recurring symbols like chairs, vessels, and flora, and explore themes such as identity, diaspora, orientalism, and consumerism, often with ironic and humorous undertones.

article local schedule Oct 2, 2025

421 is 10: Abu Dhabi’s 421 Arts Campus celebrates decade of proud achievement

Abu Dhabi's 421 Arts Campus, an independent arts platform supporting emerging artists from the UAE and the SWANA region, celebrates its 10-year anniversary on November 15, 2025. Over the past decade, it has supported over 1,500 creative practitioners, presented more than 50 exhibitions, commissioned hundreds of new works, and delivered around 2,000 programs including residencies, grants, and public events. It has also mentored over 60 interns and worked with more than 250 regional designers through its Dukkan421 design store.

person Gulf Today