Sotheby’s has partnered with 10 leading UAE galleries to spotlight emerging and established regional artists. Through The Gallery Collective, the auction house will host rotating exhibitions starting this month. Every six to eight weeks, a new gallery will transform Sotheby’s space in the DIFC.
“From the moment we opened our doors in the heart of the DIFC, our aim was to support the blossoming cultural ecosystem of the UAE, working side-by-side with the institutions and galleries who also make up the rich tapestry of the art scene here,” said Katia Nounou Boueiz, Sotheby’s Middle East Deputy Chairman.
“This series of boutique exhibitions will turn the spotlight onto emerging and established artists through the lens of our partner galleries, presenting them to collectors on the ground and through our international platform. It is a great opportunity to start to, or add to, a collection in an intimate setting, benefitting from a wealth of expertise.”
Participating galleries include Tabari Artspace, Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery, Efie Gallery, Iyad Qanazea Gallery, Leila Heller Gallery, Aisha Alabbar Gallery, The Third Line, Lawrie Shabibi, Carbon 12, and Green Art Gallery. The Gallery Collective will also feature free talks and spotlight regional artists’ unique themes and works.
The inaugural exhibition, Jewels, by Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery, opened on Tuesday and will run until January 6. It features bold portraits by New York artist Khalif Tahir Thompson and vibrant, textured paintings by American artist Summer Wheat.
The following exhibition, “Hot Spots,” is a collaborative show by Tabari Artspace and The Third Line. It will run from January 9 to March 10, showcasing a variety of artists from the Middle East and North Africa working across different mediums and disciplines.
The third exhibition “Form and Rhythm” by Lawrie Shabibi, will take place from March 12 to May 7. It will feature inter-generational artists such as Pakistani artist Hamra Abbas, Palestinian architect and artist Dima Srouji, Iranian-German artist Timo Nasseri, and Lebanese artist Nabil Nahas, focusing on geometric abstraction and traditional crafts.
The Gallery Collective will continue until 2026.
Reported by: The National
