Art Dubai Kicks Off Its 2023 Edition

Art Dubai officially opens to the public on 3^rd March 2023, and if you’re thinking of heading down to the fair we round up some of the highlights to see.

Artist Refik Anadol launches new immersive installation ‘Glacier Dreams’, which debuts today in the Julius Baer Lounge at Art Dubai 2023.

Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai the 2023 edition of the Middle East’s leading international art fair is its most ambitious edition to date featuring over 130 contemporary, modern and digital gallery presentations from six continents, including over 30 first-time participants.

Art Dubai 2023

The fair’s galleries will be split into four main sections: Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba and Art Dubai Digital. These will be complemented by an ambitious partner and non-profit programme, including newly commissioned artworks and premieres by internationally renowned artists.

This year’s season will have a focus on Global South including a new commissioned performance programme in partnership with leading South Asian galleries and institutions.

Art Dubai 2023

Art Dubai Contemporary presents the very best in cutting-edge contemporary art from 76 galleries and 34 countries. There are14 first-time exhibitors, and 12 galleries who are returning to Art Dubai after a hiatus. The 2023 edition of Art Dubai will feature 24 Dubai-based galleries, more than ever before, reflecting the continued growth of Dubai’s artistic ecosystem and the emirate’s increasing importance as a global creative and cultural hub.

There is an Expanded education, conference and events programme across five days, including the 16th edition of flagship summit the Global Art Forum, the inaugural Middle East editions of Christie’s Art+Tech conference, and the Art Business Conference.

This year also marks the second year of Art Dubai Digital, focusing on artists and organisations working at the cutting edge of new technologies. This physical section of Art Dubai provides an annual 360-degree snapshot of the digital art landscape, building bridges between the art and technology worlds, and exploring how artists are utilising new, immersive technologies to collapse the boundaries of the traditional art world. The selection is drawn from across 6 continents, reinforcing Art Dubai’s commitment to presenting global perspectives and diversity, inviting audiences to look beyond traditional art centres, and mapping out the key agents and platforms leading the way. Curated by Singapore-based educator and arts writer Clara Che Wei Peh, the expanded 2023 edition will focus on the artists, galleries and institutions driving this fast-developing arena.

Art Dubai 2023

The 2023 edition of Art Dubai Modern is curated by Paris-based critic and curator Mouna Mekouar and Italian art historian Lorenzo Giusti (director, GAMeC, Bergamo). It features solo presentations by the region’s modern masters, reinforcing Art Dubai’s commitment to curatorial scholarship and art historical research. The selection focuses on the pioneers of contemporary art in the MENASA area, whose works are retrospectively playing a key role in today’s art and, by extension, in art history and reflecting the cultural richness and diversity of the region.