Nika Project Space artist Mirna Bamieh's Sour Things: The Kitchen (detail, 2023)
Photo: Ivan Erofeev. Courtesy Nika Project Space
Several new galleries have opened on Al Khayat Avenue, in the Al Quoz Creative Zone, just a two-minute walk from the established Alserkal Avenue—home to some of Dubai’s most famous galleries—prompting locals to dub it “Off-Serkal”.
The sleek Nika Project Space, founded by Russian collector Veronika Berezina, is showing work by New York-based artist Katya Muromtseva (1 March-4 May). Berezina aims for a programme that is “conceptually challenging and not decorative”. The neighbouring Efie Gallery was founded by the Mintah family from Ghana. “The art scene is relatively nascent here, which in turn has offered the perfect terrain for expansion and innovation,” says director Kwame Mintah. Other new galleries here include Belvedere Art Space and immersive art venue Kanvas.
Dubai’s reputation for experiential work is underlined by 37xDubai, which opened in October with a programme of light-based and immersive installations. The newly opened Arte Museum in the Dubai Mall is also showing immersive artworks designed to engage all the senses.
Debuting during Art Dubai is a sculpture park at H-Residence, a new residential community in the Jumeirah district that includes a year-round cultural programme and exhibitions in partnership with Art Dubai.
