Abu Dhabi, UAE: The second edition of Galleries Week, hosted in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art, Warehouse421 and Festember, concluded on 11 March 2018, after a fast-paced week of artwork sales for participating galleries. The popular community event was inaugurated at a special preview on 6 March 2018 by H.E. Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and H.E. Saif Seed Ghobash, Director General DCT Abu Dhabi.

Director General of DCT Abu Dhabi, H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, said: “Galleries Week fulfils a key year-round role in helping to develop ties between galleries, artists and the wider community in Abu Dhabi, as well as encouraging new collectors with accessible price points. It’s great to also comment on the fact that, out of 34 artists chosen by the galleries for this event, 10 were from the UAE, reflecting a clear growth in the local art market which we are pleased to support.”

Galleries Week offered commercial galleries the opportunity to exhibit and sell works by local and regional artists with prices starting at AED 650. Sales figures for the 2018 edition of Galleries Week totalled over AED467,000 with 61 artworks purchased during the event, a 57% increase from the 2017 edition.

Launched in 2017, the popular community art event this year featured six commercial galleries including first-time participants Meem Gallery from Dubai and Etihad Modern Art Gallery from Abu Dhabi and four returning galleries namely Abu Dhabi based Salwa Zaidan Gallery, Dubai-based Cuadro Fine Art Gallery as well as Jeddah-based ATHR and Hafez Gallery.

Faisal Al Hassan, Manager at Warehouse421, said: “Warehouse421 is pleased to have partnered with Abu Dhabi Art and Festember to wrap up another successful edition of Galleries Week. The response to the event has been great, and our visitors truly appreciated the community vibe of the Galleries Week experience brought to life through a vibrant mix of art activities, retail pop-ups by local designers, entertainment line-up by local entertainers, dining experiences at food trucks and so much more. It has also been a fantastic weekend for the participating galleries who were able to reach out to a wider community of collectors in the UAE and showcase the artworks of a number of regional artists for sale. While Galleries Week has drawn to a close, Warehouse421 will continue to host the commercial galleries for an extended duration through their dedicated exhibitions, bringing the world of art closer to our visitors."

Meagan Kelly Horsman from Meem Gallery said: “Meem Gallery has had a wonderful week at Warehouse421. This is our first year participating in Galleries Week and we have been delighted with the public engagement with our artworks on display and met many new faces and collectors. Looking forward to Galleries Week 2019!”

Basma Harasani from ATHR said: “Many people gravitated towards our young Saudi artists, which was great as that offered them a new platform here in Abu Dhabi – this is the first time they have exhibited in a place other than Jeddah. In particular Badr Ali, Ghada Al Rabeah and Wafaa Abu Saad had great success.”

Salwa Zeidan from Salwa Zeidan Gallery reported from the event, “I think it’s a fantastic way to communicate with new art lovers and connect with existing collectors. The result has been great – everyone is buying art because of the low price points. But also and more importantly this week has made art accessible to wider audiences, everyone is enjoying the atmosphere. The music and food trucks have made it into a very entertaining event for families too. It creates the possibility that new people here in Abu Dhabi will start collecting. Sales have been really good, including works on paper by Hussain Sharif and also a big commission for an Emirati artist that I represent, Abdul Aziz Al-Fadli, from a new collector who came across the work here for the first time.’

Enabling easy access to a diverse array of well-known commercial galleries, Galleries Week offers the UAE community an exciting gateway to the world of art, allowing them the opportunity to collect or invest in a wide range of artworks on a budget.  

For more information on Galleries Week, please visit warehouse421.ae.   

About Warehouse421

Warehouse421 is a hub for creativity and an active participant in Abu Dhabi’s creative ecosystem, and is dedicated to supporting learning, making, exhibition and commercial activity relevant to the local and regional creative industries.  Since November 2015, Warehouse421 has hosted 11 exhibitions and showcased the work of more than 200 local and regional artists and designers, providing a place for creatives to formally and informally convene.  Warehouse421 offers public the opportunity to explore their creativity through interactive initiatives including talks, workshops, film screenings and performances. Located in the Mina Zayed of Abu Dhabi, Warehouse421 was converted from two former industrial warehouses and designed by the respected Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).  

About Abu Dhabi Art:

Abu Dhabi Art expands beyond the notion of a traditional art fair, in placing strong emphasis on a diverse public engagement programme, including art installations, exhibitions, talks and events that take place in different locations throughout the year. The culmination of this year-long programme is the Abu Dhabi Art event in November, which provides an important sales platform for participating galleries, whilst also offering these galleries an opportunity to showcase installations and site-specific works by their artists to an audience of over 20,000 visitors.

 

Participating Galleries & Artists: 

ATHR, Jeddah

Founded in 2009 by Hamza Serafi and Mohammed Hafiz, Athr is a Contemporary Art project space and gallery which enables artistic dialogue between contemporary artists across the world. Athr represents Middle Eastern and international artists. It provides a creative environment for artists and showcases international and Saudi contemporary art supported by extensive public programmes aimed at encouraging engagement with local audiences.

Exhibiting artists: Abdulaziz Alrashidi, Aya Haider, Badr Ali, Dana Awartani, Ghada Al Rabea, Shaker Kashgari, Ushmita Sahu, Wafaa Abu Sadaa, Mohammed Abdul Rassoul

Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, Dubai

Founded in 2008 in Dubai, Cuadro Fine Art Gallery has four keys areas of focus within the Modern and Contemporary space: exhibitions, education, residency and consultation. Cuadro’s curated exhibitions are enhanced by the Cuadro Education Programme, which is comprised of lectures, workshops and panel discussions. The Residency at Cuadro offers a select group of local and international artists access to studio space as well as the opportunity to exhibit the work they have created at Cuadro at the end of their residency. Through these initiatives, Cuadro maintains its commitment to meaningfully contribute to the local and international art communities.

Exhibiting artists: Abdullah Lutfi, Alan Mongey, Hazem Mahdy, Sara Al Hadad

Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi

Etihad Modern Art Gallery is a multi-purpose art space in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The owner, H.E. Khaled Siddiq Al Mutawaa, envisioned a friendly and versatile art space, which encourages the promotion, discussion and growing appreciation of the burgeoning Emirati art scene.Despite being a relatively young organisation, Etihad Modern Art Gallery has undergone remarkable professional development since its establishment. Having opened in 2013, EMAG organised significant art shows and local heritage exhibitions, creating bonds with the international art scene, as well as academic institutions. It has also cooperated with a number of international institutions, such as the French Institute, the Museum of Fine Art Budapest and Houston Museum, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, or the Sovereign Art Prize.

Exhibiting artists: Alaa Al Qedra, Maisoon Al Saleh, Taqwa Al Naqbi

Hafez Gallery, Jeddah

Founded in 2014 in Jeddah, Hafez Gallery serves as a space to nurture the discovery of a Saudi visual identity and participate in international art dialogue. Hafez Gallery participates in art fairs throughout the region, promoting awareness and access to contemporary Saudi and Middle Eastern art.

Exhibiting artists: Abdulrahman Al Shahed, Afsoon, Ali Chaaban, Awatef Al Safwan, Everitte Barbee, Khalid Zahid, Lina Gazzaz, Mai Al Moataz, Nouf Beydoun, Nora Alissa, Ola Fairag, Sarah Al-Abdali

Meem Gallery, Dubai

Meem Gallery is a leading international presence in the management and promotion of Modern and Contemporary Arab, North African and Iranian art.

Founded in 2007 by Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, Mishal Hamed Kanoo and Charles Pocock, the gallery runs an ambitious programme of solo and group exhibitions with a special focus on regional Modern Masters, including Dia Azzawi, Kamal Boullata and Parviz Tanavoli. The gallery also exhibits the work of innovative Contemporary artists such as Zhivago Duncan and Mahmoud Obaidi.

In addition to its extensive exhibition schedule, Meem Gallery oversees Meem Editions, a respected in-house publishing programme that regularly commissions work by many of the most well-regarded scholars, academics and writers in the field.

Exhibiting artists: Assadour, Dia Azzawi, Marwan, Munira Al Kazi

Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abu Dhabi

Founded in 1994 in Abu Dhabi, Salwa Zeidan Gallery specialises in Contemporary Art, representing established and emerging artists from around the globe. The gallery features works in a variety of mediums from paintings, photography and sculptures to installation and performance art. The gallery was founded by Salwa Zeidan, a painter, sculptor and curator. In addition to nurturing local talent through supporting emerging artists, the gallery represents many of the region’s most prominent artists. Salwa Zeidan Gallery annually participates in regional and international art fairs. In 2014, the gallery launched the Middle East’s first online gallery, offering artists from the region an international platform from which to present their artworks.

Exhibiting artists: Abdul Aziz Al-Fadli, Fatema Al Mazroui, Hussain Sharif, Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi, Saoud Al Dhaheri

© Press Release 2018