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Art DubaiArt

by Alexandra Mansilla

Off To the Art Fair: Your Pocket Guide To Art Dubai 2025

12 Apr 2025

Are you counting down the days to Art Dubai? We are. With less than a week to go, we are guessing it is already marked in your calendar — but just in case: it is happening April 18–20 at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre. You can grab your tickets here.
So, what is in store? In short: art. Everywhere. Left, right, front, back. Don’t worry if it feels a bit overwhelming — that is completely normal for any fair or large-scale exhibition. There is a lot to see, and every piece tells its own story. And you will want to remember everything.
Pablo del Val, Artistic Director of Art Dubai, probably said it best when explaining why the 2025 edition is truly something special: “What is most exciting this year is that, of all the editions we’ve done in Dubai, this one is set to be the strongest yet. The works we are receiving, the proposals — everything is outstanding.”
As always, Art Dubai will be divided into four main sections: BAWWABA, Contemporary, Art Dubai Modern, and Art Dubai Digital. Each section is shaped by its own curator, each with a distinct vision and curatorial approach.

Art Dubai Contemporary

Probably one of the most diverse sections — and definitely the largest, with 72 participating galleries — of Art Dubai, and for good reason. It brings together artists from all over the world: Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Madrid, Mumbai, Milan, Tokyo, New Delhi, New York… the list goes on. You’ll find works by both established names (like Michelangelo Pistoletto, Peju Alatise, or Héctor Zamora) and emerging artists. So, be ready to discover new names — and don’t be surprised if you end up taking notes on your phone.
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Existence-emitting Movements, Héctor Zamora

Pablo del Val: “In the Contemporary section, you’ll find a mix of established and emerging galleries. Many of these galleries are key players in their home countries, while others represent younger voices. There is also a strong emphasis on the Global South, with even Western galleries showcasing artists from diverse geographies.”

BAWWABA (Curated by Mirjam Varadinis)

BAWWABA (which means “gateway” in Arabic) explores the theme: “How can we imagine new forms of coexistence — both among people and with our planet?”
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Karthik Pandian, Surrendur 01 Year, 2025. Courtesy of the artist and Federica Schiavo Gallery

Mirjam Varadinis: “We are living in times of great political and social turmoil and crisis. The climate emergency is becoming more and more tangible. It is, therefore, crucial to think about what other and more sustainable forms of coexistence with the planet we could imagine and how common ground amongst people can be rebuilt. Art has the potential to break with conventions and define the impossible. This is what we need today.”
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Tomás Saraceno, Nacreous 904.8, 2024. Courtesy: Studio Tomás Saraceno and Pinksummer

So, who are the artists to watch? Exceptional ones — each approaching the theme in their own way.
Mirjam Varadinis: “Karthik Pandian connects to nature and creates an environment that invites us to reflect on the holy rivers of India and their relationship with us human beings. Similarly, Jorge Rosano Gamboa explores the resources we rely on, particularly water. Gulnur Mukazhanova, on the other hand, uses handcrafted wool as a canvas, merging tradition with contemporary forms of painting. So, it is about imagining a future by re-thinking the past and present. This interplay is particularly relevant to Dubai’s context, where ancient knowledge and rapid modern transformation intersect. Abdullah Al Othman’s work, for example, focuses on the changing landscape in the city of Dubai, using local materials to reflect these shifts.”
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Abdullah Al Othman, Manifesto: The Language and the City, 2021, Neon wall installation. Courtesy of the artist and Iris Projects. Commissioned by Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Art Dubai Modern (Curated by Magalí Arriola and Dr. Nada Shabout)

This section focuses on modern masters from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), featuring artists who played pivotal roles in shaping the region’s cultural identity throughout the 20th century. For the first time, Art Dubai Modern will also spotlight Latin America — highlighting historic migration routes from the mid-19th century and the cultural connections they created.
What you get is a rich blend of cultures that, at first glance, might seem far apart — but when seen through the lens of art, feel deeply connected.
Magalí Arriola and Dr. Nada Shabout: “We realised many similarities between the artists from Latin America and the region in their experiences as part of the national postcolonial structures. For example, returning and invoking heritage is a strong theme and methodology for artists of both regions in articulating their new and changed realities. Abstraction is another strong connection. Again, artists in both regions were drawn to abstraction as a way to reconnect to their heritage and connect with other modern experiments.”
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Laila Shawa, Untitled, 1967. Courtesy: Gallery One

Art Dubai Digital (Curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado)

Arguably one of the most exciting sections of the fair — where artists fully embrace technology and push it into the realm of the poetic, the political, and the fantastical. It is the youngest section at Art Dubai, and this year marks its fourth edition. The 2025 theme is “After the Technological Sublime.”
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Primavera De Filippi, Arborithms, 2025; Zach Lieberman Circle Stripe Study #2 (w/ Radial cones), 2024; CROSSLUCID, The Way of Flowers: Seed 1484490556, 2023. Courtesy: Gazelli Art House

Gonzalo Herrero Delicado: “Some works are deeply rooted in the present, while others explore alternative realities — often dystopian. I am particularly interested in the works of Primavera De Filippi and CROSSLUCID, presented by Gazelli.io, which use advanced technology to reimagine alternative realities for the natural world. This approach closely aligns with the works of Fuse, presented by the Dubai-based gallery Sevil Dolmaci — a series of speculative natural species depicted in the style of traditional botanical drawings. Meanwhile, Can Büyükberber, presented by Sevil Dolmaci, artist Annibale Siconolfi, presented by Blackdove in partnership with Immaterika, and studio Six N. Five, presented by Pixel, offer AI-generated urban landscapes that blur the line between utopia and dystopia. Their works capture the tension between admiration and anxiety surrounding the impact of technological advancements.”

But that is not all…

Art Dubai isn’t just about what is on the walls — it is also about what is in motion, what is being said, and what is happening after hours.
On Sunday, 20 April, don’t miss the live performance by Héctor Zamora, who uses raw clay to explore ideas of rebirth and transformation.
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Emergencia, Héctor Zamora. Photo: Paula Caballero. Courtesy of the artist and Albarran Bourdais

Throughout the fair, a daily talks programme will bring together artists, curators, and thinkers shaping the global art conversation. Highlights include the Global Art Forum "The New New Normal", the second edition of the Digital Summit, and intimate artist conversations with speakers like Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rem Koolhaas, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Primavera de Filippi, and Krista Kim.
When the sun goes down, the After Dark series kicks in: a two-night lineup (18–19 April) of international sounds and late-night energy. Expect everything from funk to world dance beats with artists like Habibi Funk and Melika.
And then there is the wider programme:
— Julius Baer celebrates 10 years of partnership with a new commission by Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, titled Directions (Merging) — a tribute to Dubai’s role as a global cultural hub.
— HUNA presents a new sculpture commission by Jacob Dahlgren and a talks series with key UAE cultural voices.
— Dubai Collection joins forces with Zayed University students for Common Grounds — an exhibition that crosses cultural and geographic borders through works selected from the city’s first institutional art collection.
...and more!
Come, dive into the art, get inspired, and discover new names.
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