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.
Friends of Abu Dhabi Art
Chair
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Advisory Committee
Asma Al Fahim
Fairouz Villain
Nadia Sehweil
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Rana Kuzayli El-Khoury
Rasha Al Mubarak
Serena Carnevale
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Image credit: Hashel Al Lamki, The Island, 2019
Friends of Abu Dhabi Art
Alia Sefrioui
Berkay Oncel
Buthaina Al Mazroui
Christina Aboyoun
Christine Trainor
Dina Shehada
Dr. Mona Hammami
Haifa Ahmed Alobeidli
Ibrahim Al Manaee
Jean Paul Villain
Karin Troy
Khadijah Al Kudsi and Hashim Al Kudsi
Lizeth Maalouf Makhoul
Maysoon Barber
Mimi Merhebi
Mohammed Afkham
i
Mustafa Kheriba
Salama Mohammed Al Helli
Salvatore Lavallo
Samia Bouazza
Saood Al Nuaimi
Sima Ved
Thomas Young
Image credit: Maitha Abdalla,Flying Closer To The Sun, 2021
CHAIR & COMMITTEE
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Chair
Asma Seddiq Al Mutawa
Chair
Asma Al Fahim
Advisory Committee
Asma Al Fahim
Advisory Committee
Fairouz Villian
Advisory Committee
Fairouz Villian
Advisory Committee
Nadia Sehweil
Advisory Committee
Nadia Sehweil
Advisory Committee
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Advisory Committee
Olivier Georges Mestelan
Advisory Committee
Rana Kuzayli El-Khoury
Advisory Committee
Rana Kuzayli El-Khoury
Advisory Committee
Rasha Al Mubarak
Advisory Committee
Rasha Al Mubarak
Advisory Committee
Serena Carnevale
Advisory Committee
Serena Carnevale
Advisory Committee
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Advisory Committee
Shafeena Yussuf Ali
Advisory Committee