Auction house Sotheby’s has announced plans to launch a new partnership with galleries in the UAE, in the form of a two-year series of rotating exhibitions.
The initiative, set to begin in November 2024 and last until 2026, is called The Gallery Collective. Sotheby’s Dubai will host the exhibitions, which are based around collaborations with local galleries. Each show will run for between six to eight weeks, with the galleries being given the opportunity to take over Sotheby’s in Dubai with their own unique vision.
The first galleries slated to participate are Zidoun-Bossuyt with a dual show featuring the work of Khalif Tahir Thompson and Summer Wheat; Tabari Artspace, which will collaborate with The Third Line for the first time on an exhibition entitled Hotspots, showing the work of a collective of artists from across the MENA region; and Lawrie Shabibi with Form and Rhythm, which will showcase the work of Hamra Abbas, Dima Srouji, Farhad Ahrarnia, Timo Nasseri, Mohamed Melehi, Nabil Nahas and Shahpour Pouyan, all artists who have applied principles of geometry and traditional craft to their respective practices. Other galleries with exhibitions to be announced in collaboration with Sotheby’s Dubai include Leila Heller, Iyad Qanazea, Aisha Al Abbar, Carbon 12, Efie and Green Art.
“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. 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, or add to, a collection in an intimate setting, benefitting from a wealth of expertise.”
Katia Nounou Boueiz, Deputy Chairman, Sotheby’s Middle East
