Observers of Change Exhibition Documents Five Decades of Art from UAE
- Curated by Rémi Homs, the exhibition is organized by Dubai Culture in collaboration with the Barjeel Art Foundation at Etihad Museum.
Dubai, UAE, 04 December 2025: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in collaboration with the Barjeel Art Foundation, is showcasing ‘Observers of Change’, a major exhibition that traces the evolution of the UAE’s artistic identity over five decades. Taking place until 30 June 2026 at Etihad Museum, and drawing from the extensive Barjeel Art Foundation collection, ‘Observers of Change’ features around 60 works by pioneering and contemporary artists who have lived and worked in the UAE since 1971. Their works document the nation’s rapid social, economic, and urban transformation through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.
The exhibition highlights a cross-generational dialogue between Emirati artists and creatives from across the Arab world, including contributions from Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Bahrain. Key thematic sections explore early landscape painting, abstraction, Arabic calligraphy, urban documentation, and the evolving notions of national identity and memory.
Participating artists include: Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Khalil Abdulwahed, Ali Al Abdan, Ammar Al Attar, Afra Al Dhaheri, Mahra Al Falahi, Reem Al Ghaith, Nujoom Alghanem, Moosa Al Halyan, Fatma Al Joker, Hessa Al Joker, Hala Al Kouatli, Diaa Allam, Hashel Al Lamki, Salma Al Merri, Hussain Al Mossawi, Ziad Al Najjar, Miramar Al Nayyar, Abdul Qader Al Rais, Ismail Al Rifai, Farah Al Qasimi, Mohammed Al Qassab, Noor Al Suwaidi, Ziad Antar, Mattar Bin Lahej, Lateefa Bint Maktoum, eL Seed, Ahmed Emad, Rami Farook, Lamia Gargash, Hazem Harb, Layla Juma, Mohammed Kazem, Fatma Lootah, Najat Makki, Mohamed Mandi, Camelia Mohebi, Faeza Mubarak, Nasir Nasrallah, Munira Nuseibeh, Driss Ouadahi, Sameeha Rajab, Nabil Safwat, Abdul Raheem Salem, Hassan Sharif, Hussain Sharif, Obaid Suroor, Yacoub Yousef
As part of its efforts to strengthen partnerships across the cultural ecosystem, Dubai Culture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Barjeel Art Foundation to expand avenues of collaboration and establish an integrated framework that enhances cooperation between the public and private sectors. Under the agreement, both entities will exchange expertise in museum studies and the design, management, and hosting of temporary exhibitions across Dubai Culture’s cultural and heritage sites. The MoU also includes the development of educational and research programs focused on artistic practices, documentation, and evaluation, promoting their dissemination through both parties’ platforms. In addition, it provides for the exchange and public display of art collections to engage wider audiences.
Muna Faisal Al Gurg, CEO of the Museums and Heritage Sector at Dubai Culture, said: “To bring together museum professionals and a landmark showcase of UAE art at the Etihad Museum is both timely and symbolic. It represents the convergence of heritage, forward-thinking innovation, and cultural stewardship. Through these concurrent milestones, we are reaffirming Dubai’s role as a curator of regional narratives and a host for global sector-defining conversations. The exhibition reflects our commitment to enhancing access to art and deepening public engagement with the UAE’s creative history. It also supports our mission of cementing Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.”
Barjeel Art Foundation, established in 2010 by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi in Sharjah, has been instrumental in preserving and promoting modern and contemporary art from the Arab world. The foundation’s works have been exhibited in over 40 cities internationally and loaned to in excess of 160 institutions worldwide.
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Dubai Culture to celebrate five decades of art in the UAE. Observers of Change invites us to pause and reflect on our rich cultural heritage, shaped and still being shaped by both pioneering and emerging artists across the country. This partnership offers the public the chance to discover key works from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, including some that have never been shown publicly before.” Rémi, curator of the Barjeel Art Foundation and the exhibition “Observers of Change”, said: “We are glad to present an exhibition guided by our gender-balanced approach. It affirms our commitment to highlighting the seminal contributions of women artists, including Najat Makki, Ebtisam Abdulaziz, and Afra Al Dhaheri, each of whom has participated in shaping the Emirati art scene during these formative decades.”
