FRIENDS OF ABU DHABI ART
Launched in 2021, the Friends of Abu Dhabi Art is made up of individuals who are actively committed to supporting art and culture in the emirate.
WELCOME TO THE FRIENDS OF ABU DHABI ART
SPACE
Each year, Friends of Abu Dhabi Art commissions new artworks by UAE-based artists. Aiming to contribute to the local art ecosystem, this initiative enables the production of new work by both emerging and established artists.
In 2021, Friends of Abu Dhabi Art commissioned work from the three emerging UAE-based artists – Hashel Al Lamki, Maitha Abdalla and Christopher Benton – who participated in that year’s Beyond: Emerging Artists, the guest curators for which were Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath.
In 2022, the Friends of Abu Dhabi Art initiative continued to support the 2021 commissioned artists by attending Abu Dhabi Art: Beyond Emerging Artists in Venice.
In 2023 the three appointed artists for Beyond Emerging Artists included, Almaha Jaralla, Latifa Saeed and Samo Shalaby, all based in the UAE Abu Dhabi Art. The work of these artists will be subsequently exhibited in Venice for a period of one month commencing mid April 2024.
The group will continue its support of the local art scene by commissioning new artists for Abu Dhabi Art’s 2022 fair, whose works will be exhibited in Manarat Al Saadiyat and in a new international destination.
Commissioning and funding a public art project in the emirate of Abu Dhabi each year.
Bringing together a group of dedicated art patrons and enthusiasts who seek to support artists in the realisation of ambitious new projects for the city. [Bottom Image Credit] Christopher Joshua Benton, Our Plant Immigrants, 2021
Contributing toward the presence and visibility of Contemporary art from the United Arab Emirates, both locally and abroad.
Friends of Abu Dhabi Art
Chair
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Advisory Committe
H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh
Dr. Farjam Farhad
Asma Al Fahim
Fairouz Villain
Serena Carnevale
Nadia Sehweil
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Rasha Al Mubarak
Image credit: Hashel Al Lamki, The Island, 2019
Friends of Abu Dhabi Art
Alia Sefrioui
Amandine Oncel
Bakhtawar Bhutto
Berkay Oncel
Buthaina Al Mazroui
Dina Shehada
Farah Seddeq Al Mutawa
Haifa Ahmed Alobeidli
Hashim Al Kudsi
Hayfa Matter
Jean Paul Villain
Khadijah Al Kudsi
Mahmood Choudhry
Mary Habib
Maryam Lootah
Mohammed Afkhami
Mustafa Kheriba
Salama Mohammed Al Helli
Salvatore Lavallo
Samia Bouazza
Shaden Bolbol
Sima Ved
Tariq Baloosh
Thomas Young
Wedad Al Hassan
Image credit: Maitha Abdalla, Flying Closer To The Sun, 2021
CHAIR & COMMITTEE
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Chair
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Chair
H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh
Advisory Committee
H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh
Advisory Committee
Dr. Farjam Farhad
Advisory Committee
Dr. Farjam Farhad
Advisory Committee
Asma Al Fahim
Advisory Committee
Asma Al Fahim
Advisory Committee
Fairouz Villian
Advisory Committee
Fairouz Villian
Advisory Committee
Serena Carnevale
Advisory Committee
Serena Carnevale
Advisory Committee
Nadia Sehweil
Advisory Committee
Nadia Sehweil
Advisory Committee
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Advisory Committee
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Advisory Committee
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Advisory Committee
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Advisory Committee
Rasha Al Mubarak
Advisory Committee
Rasha Al Mubarak
Advisory Committee