Sotheby’s Dubai Collaborates with UAE’s Homegrown Galleries

Sotheby’s collaborates with the UAE’s best-loved galleries

Sotheby’s Dubai is working with 10 of the UAE’s galleries to platform artists from across the region. Through an initiative called The Gallery Collective, Sotheby’s will host a new exhibition every six to eight weeks, whereby a UAE gallery will have the chance to take over the Sotheby’s Dubai exhibition space and present their artists.

Launched in November 2024, The Gallery Collective will run until 2026 with the aim of celebrating the UAE’s thriving local art scene. The participating galleries include Tabari Artspace, Zidoun-Bossuyt, Efie Gallery, Iyad Qanazea Gallery, Leila Heller, Aisha Alabbar, The Third Line, Lawrie Shabibi, Carbon 12 and Green Art Gallery. “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, deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Middle East, “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, benefiting from a wealth of expertise.”

The debut exhibition in the series was hosted by Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery, whose exhibition Jewels presented the work of Khalif Tahir Thompson and Summer Wheat. The colourful works on display explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, femininity, labour and community.

Following this was an exhibition titled Hot Spots, which was the result of a collaboration between Tabari Artspace and the Third Line. The exhibition title was derived from travel marketing vocabulary and sought to build connections between the artists on display. The works on view included a series of postcards from Lebanese artist Aya Haidar's Wish You Were Here Series as well as paintings of tourists by Egyptian artist Adel El Siwi.

The Gallery Collective’s current show is presented by Lawrie Shabibi and is titled Form and Rhythm, comprising works by artists who use traditional crafts and geometric abstraction within their work. The exhibition brings together a multigenerational group of artists including Hamra Abbas, Dima Srouji, Mohamed Melehi, Farhad Ahrarnia, Timo Nasseri, Nabil Nahas and Shahpour Pouyan. The works in the exhibition comprise ceramics, works of cut stone and glass, Mughal-inspired hard stone inlay and Persian micro-mosaics, as well as paintings and silkscreens. The multidisciplinary show presents a look at historic craft through the intersection of contemporary and Islamic art.

While the next exhibitions in the series have yet to be announced, the diversity of galleries on the roster promises that each show will present a new perspective from the UAE to the local audience. The Gallery Collective and its collaborators will also host a series of talks and events to spotlight their artists and discuss artistic themes unique to the region throughout the series.

The Gallery Collective will run at Sotheby’s Dubai until 2026. Form and Rhythm is on display until 7 May 2025.