Non-Profit

Sharjah Art Foundation

Founded in 2009, the Foundation is an initiative committed to supporting the development of a flourishing arts environment in the Gulf.

Al Shuwaiheen, Arts Area, Sharjah, UAE

Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. Under the leadership of founder Hoor Al Qasimi, a curator and artist, the foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators, and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.

Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. All events are free and open to the public.

Contacts & Details
OPENING TIMES:
Sat – Thu 9am – 9pm; Fri 4pm – 9pm
ADMISSION:
Free, online advanced booking is mandatory
T: +971 6 568 5050
M: info@sharjahart.org
W: Sharjah Art Foundation

ADDRESS
Al Shuwaiheen, Arts Area, Sharjah, UAE

ESTABLISHED
2009
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Past Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Aref Al Rayess
This major retrospective presents a largely unknown body of work created by the prolific Lebanese artist Aref El Rayess (1928–2005). The exhibition includes a wide range of paintings, drawings, works on paper, sculptures and tapestries that together reveal the rich and complex artistic practice of this important Arab modernist.
26 Feb 2022 - 01 Aug 2022
Sharjah Art Museum
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Gerald Annan-Forson: Revolution and Image-making in Postcolonial Ghana (1979-1985)
In collaboration with The Africa Institute, Sharjah Art Foundation presents the first retrospective of the work of Ghanaian photographer Gerald Annan-Forson.
07 Mar 2022 - 07 Jul 2022
Al Hamriyah Studios
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Lawrence Abu Hamdan: The Sonic Image
In his largest solo exhibition of new works to date, award-winning artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan brings together a selection of new multisensory commissions and recent works that probe the question: Can the frequencies, simulations and stimulations of sound reveal narratives concealed from history?
04 Mar 2022 - 04 Jul 2022
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Khalil Rabah: What is not
Khalil Rabah: What is not is an exhibition of significant works by Khalil Rabah, created from the 1990s to the present, that propose speculative frameworks and platforms for exploring how cultural institutions, curatorial practice, museological discourse and critical knowledge operate under long-standing states of emergency and displacement.
04 Mar 2022 - 04 Jul 2022
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
CAMP: Passages through Passages
Passages through Passages brings together a body of key works by CAMP, the Mumbai-based artist studio founded in 2007 by Shaina Anand and Ashok Sukumaran.
04 Mar 2022 - 04 Jul 2022
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Hrair Sarkissian: The Other Side of Silence
Sharjah Art Foundation presents the exhibition ‘The Other Side of Silence‘ by Syrian-Armenian...
04 Nov 2021 - 30 Jan 2022
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Rayyane Tabet: Exquisite Corpse
The artist's first in-depth presentation in the UAE region
12 Mar 2021 - 15 Jun 2021
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Tarek Atoui: Cycles in 11
Taking place at Bait Al Serkal Arts Square
19 Sep 2020 - 10 Apr 2021
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Zarina Bhimji: Black Pocket
A mid-career retrospective of Zarina Bhimji, including some of the artist’s seminal works in film, photography and installation
02 Oct 2020 - 10 Apr 2021
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Art in the Age of Anxiety
Curated by Omar Kholeif, this is the most ambitious exhibition to date in the region exploring art in the age of the internet. The exhibition takes place in Gallery 1,2 and 3.
21 Mar 2020 - 21 Jun 2020
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Active Forms
As part of the 2018 edition of March Meeting, the exhibition “Active Forms” presents works...
16 Mar 2018 - 16 Jun 2018
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Zineb Sedira: Air Affairs and Maritime Nonsense
Spreading through 3 of the Sharjah Art Foundation’s galleries, the major survey titled “Air Affairs...
16 Mar 2018 - 16 Jun 2018
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim
A solo show dedicated to Emirati artist Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim presenting a survey of works spanning...
16 Mar 2018 - 16 Jun 2018
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Anna Boghiguian
This solo show dedicated to Anna Boghiguian is a retrospective encompassing four decades of the artist’s...
16 Mar 2018 - 16 Jun 2018
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
The Khartoum School: The Making of Modern Art in Sudan (1945 – Present)
Sharjah Art Foundation presents “The Khartoum School: The Making of Modern Art in Sudan (1945 –...
12 Nov 2016 - 12 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Enrico David: Fault Work
Sharjah Art Foundation announces the exhibition “Fault Work” by Enrico David. Exhibiting...
01 Oct 2016 - 09 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Yayoi Kusama: Dot Obsessions
Sharjah Art Foundation announces “Dot Obsessions” an exhibition by Yayoi Kusama. The exhibition includes...
01 Oct 2016 - 09 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Robert Breer: Time flies
“Robert Breer: Time flies”, is a retrospective exhibition of artist Robert Breer opening at The Flying...
01 Oct 2016 - 09 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Kamala Ishaq: Solo Show
This solo exhibition presents works by Sudanese artist Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq. Kamala is one of the leading...
12 Nov 2016 - 09 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Amir Nour: Brevity is the Soul of Wit
Sharjah Art Foundation announces the solo show of Amir Nour: Brevity is the Soul of Wit. This major solo...
12 Nov 2016 - 09 Jan 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Kamal Youssef: Egyptian Surrealism’s Time Capsule
Sharjah Art Foundation presents the exhibition “Egyptian Surrealism’s Time Capsule” by Kamal Youssef. This...
17 Sep 2016 - 17 Nov 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Arnulf Rainer: Towards Overpaintings
Sharjah Art Foundation presents the Arnulf Rainer‘s exhibition “Towards Overpaintings“, curated...
17 Sep 2016 - 01 Nov 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Vantage Point Sharjah 4
Vantage Point Sharjah 4 (VPS4) is the fourth iteration of Sharjah Art Foundation’s (SAF) annual initiative,...
30 Jul 2016 - 12 Oct 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Simone Fattal
Curated by Sharjah Art Foundation Director Hoor Al Qasimi and hosted in the building F, SAF Art Spaces,...
12 Mar 2016 - 12 Jun 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
The Time is Out of Joint
“The Time is Out of Joint”, curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh, is the second phase of the exhibition...
12 Mar 2016 - 12 Jun 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
Sharjah Art Foundation (Building J and P, SAF Art Spaces) presents this major exhibition of work by Lebanese...
12 Mar 2016 - 08 May 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
March Project
March Project 2015 is an exhibition featuring site-specific works developed by seven young artists during...
31 Oct 2015 - 16 Jan 2016
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
Exhibitions
Light Show
Light Show explores the experiential and phenomenal aspects of light by bringing together sculptures...
19 Sep 2015 - 12 Dec 2015
Sharjah Art Foundation
Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
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