Culture

Abu Dhabi Art 2025 Spotlights Contemporary Talent from Nigeria to Turkey

Published

1 year ago

October 1, 2025

Abu Dhabi Art 2025 brings galleries from Nigeria, Turkey, the Gulf, and beyond, celebrating contemporary creativity and global artistic dialogue

Abu Dhabi Art 2025 is set to transform the emirate into a global hub of contemporary creativity this November, bringing together pioneering galleries from Nigeria, Turkey, the Gulf, and beyond.

Also read: Abu Dhabi promotes culture, tourism with Saadiyat Cultural District

For the first time, galleries from Algeria, the Netherlands, Peru, and Tanzania will participate, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s growing international influence.

Since its inception in 2009, the fair has become the region’s premier art event, attracting world-renowned galleries including Pace, Richard Saltoun, Mennour, Hanart TZ, and ATHR.

This year, newcomers such as Loft Art Gallery, Pedro Cera, and EQTNA Rare Books inject fresh energy into a line-up that has expanded by 40 percent compared with last year, underscoring the city’s rising significance on the global collecting circuit.

The fair’s curated Focus sectors highlight the depth and diversity of contemporary expression. Nigeria Spotlight features seven pioneering galleries as part of the Nigeria Everywhere initiative, presenting works that merge local realities with global conversations.

Participating galleries, including SOTO, AMG Projects, O’DA, 1897, Windsor, Ishara, kó, and a special project with MADhouse by Tikera Africa, offer a window into a vibrant cultural scene shaping global discourse.

“Modern Turkey,” curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, presents rarely seen works by masters such as Fahrelnissa Zeid at DG Art Gallery and Projects, Burhan Dogançay at Art On Istanbul Gallery, and Gulsun Karamustafa and Cengiz Cekil at BuroSarigedik.

Gulf-region galleries showcase leading Khaleeji artists including Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Kazem, Alymamah Rashed, Nasser Al Yousif, and Sara Alabdali.

The Collectors’ Salon, curated by former Sotheby’s deputy chair Roxane Zand, offers rare books, antiques, and works from blue-chip galleries such as Almine Rech and Perrotin, catering to collectors seeking exceptional pieces.

A highlight this year is the newly unveiled Aldar Hall at Manarat Al Saadiyat, featuring galleries from the Gulf and WANA region, including first-time exhibitors Loft Art Gallery, Comptoir de Mines Galerie (Morocco), Yosr Ben Ammar Gallery (Tunisia), and Galerie Farah Fakhri (Ivory Coast), reflecting the fair’s commitment to broadening regional representation.

Backed by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Art 2025 is more than a fair it is a year-round celebration of culture, combining ambitious site-specific works with opportunities for discovery, dialogue, and acquisition.

Also read: Abu Dhabi woos 14,000 Nigerian artisans with golden visas, says ITF

The event continues to cement the emirate’s reputation as a global destination for innovation, creativity, and unparalleled artistic experiences.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

1 month ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”