Sharjah Art Foundation announces the launch of Dialogues, a new talks series exploring the evolution of visual art in the UAE and across the Arab world. The inaugural session features Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, a pioneering figure whose practice has played a defining role in the development of contemporary art in the UAE. Moderated by artist and writer Ismail Al Rifai, Head of Translation and Arabic Content at Sharjah Art Foundation, the discussion is informed by Al Rifai's institutional perspective as well as his artistic practice.

Taking place on 18 July 2026 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at The Flying Saucer, Dasman, Sharjah, the session is open to participants ages 15 and above and will be conducted in Arabic.

Dialogues brings together artists and cultural practitioners to revisit pivotal moments in the development of modern and contemporary art in the UAE. The series traces the collaborations and cultural initiatives that have transformed artistic practice and discourse across the wider region. The talks also offer a platform for reflecting on the histories and institutions that continue to inform contemporary art today.

Building on this vision, the inaugural session centres on Kazem's four-decade practice, examining its deep ties to the social and cultural transformations that have shaped the UAE. The conversation will reflect on his contribution to the UAE’s artistic ecosystem—from mentoring emerging artists and supporting new generations of practitioners to creating landmark works that engage with place and social change. Kazem’s current projects and future directions will also be discussed.

Al Rifai and Kazem will also explore the broader evolution of the UAE's cultural landscape, including the collective role of art institutions, museums, galleries and the art market in strengthening the country's arts ecosystem.

Sharjah Art Foundation is committed to making its programmes inclusive and accessible. Visitors requiring accessibility support are encouraged to indicate their needs through the event registration form so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

About Mohammed Kazem

Mohammed Kazem (b. 1969, Dubai) is one of the UAE’s leading conceptual artists and a pioneering figure in the development of contemporary art in the country. Working across video, photography, performance and installation, his practice responds to the material, social and geographical transformations of his surroundings. A recurring presence within his own work, Kazem explores the relationship between the individual, place and time. In 2013, Kazem represented the UAE at the 55th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, and he has also participated in the Havana Biennial, Dhaka Art Summit and Singapore Biennale. He has been a regular participant in Sharjah Biennial since its inception, serving as a curator of its eighth edition in 2007. His works are held in the collections of international museums and institutions, including the British Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Sharjah Art Foundation and Barjeel Art Foundation. 

About Ismail Al Rifai

Ismail Al Rifai (b. 1967, Syria) is an artist and writer whose work is rooted in the inner world of the human, the original site of becoming and from which ever-renewing forms emerge. For Al Rifai, creative practice is a process of revealing what lies hidden and unknown, where the image of the spirit takes precedence over outward form and individual experience converges with its universal origins. He is currently the Head of Translation and Arabic Content at Sharjah Art Foundation. He has presented numerous solo shows and participated in international biennials and other exhibitions. He is the author of several literary and critical publications, including A Promise on Closed Lips (2002), The Stairs of Clay (2006), At the Bend of the River (2021), Narrating Place: A Critical Reading of Sharjah’s Cultural Project (2022) and Inscriptions on the Cross (2025). He holds a BA in Fine Arts from Damascus University.

About Sharjah Art Foundation

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. 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. Hoor Al Qasimi serves as President and Director. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

About Sharjah

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. It was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture for 1998 and the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.

Media Contact

Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113