Abu Dhabi Art returns in 2025 with 142 galleries from 34 countries, introducing two new Focus sectors: Focus: Nigeria Spotlight and Focus: Modern Türkiye. The Nigeria section, curated by Tola Akerele, results from a collaboration between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, featuring seven galleries such as kò, SOTO Gallery, and the 1897 Gallery. Focus: Modern Türkiye, curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, showcases rare works by modern masters like Fahrelnissa Zeid, Burhan Doğançay, and Gülsün Karamustafa, presented by Istanbul-based galleries including DG Art Gallery and Projects and BüroSarıgedik.
These Focus sectors matter because they highlight the growing international recognition of Nigerian contemporary art and the distinct trajectory of Turkish modernism, offering collectors and audiences a deeper understanding of art scenes often underrepresented at global fairs. By platforming these regions, Abu Dhabi Art expands the narrative of contemporary art beyond Western centers, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and potentially shifting market attention toward emerging art hubs.