The 17th edition of Abu Dhabi Art, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 19–23 November, brought together a remarkable selection of leading regional and international galleries. Among the highlights this year were Espacio Valverde from Madrid, AWL, operating between the UAE, Spain, and the US, and ATHR, one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential contemporary art platforms.
Despite their diverse artistic philosophies, the three galleries shared a commitment to expanding cultural dialogue, deepening engagement with artistic communities, and presenting works that resonate across geographies and audiences. Their participation added significant depth to this year’s fair, offering a spectrum of practices ranging from geometric abstraction to socially driven curatorial narratives, and bold artistic experimentation from the Gulf.
Espacio Valverde
Geometry as Sensation — Beyond Pure Mathematics
Espacio Valverde presented a compelling showcase by artist Robert Ferrer i Martorell, continuing over a decade of collaboration in what marks his fifth solo exhibition with the gallery. The works featured in Abu Dhabi form part of his ongoing series, Geometry in Process, which reflects his distinctive approach to geometry—not as a rigid mathematical construct, but as a sensory and intuitive act of making.
Ferrer blends mathematical logic—constraints, numerical codes, proportional systems—with the emotive dimension of color, structure, and spatial tension. Each work contains discreet internal numeric relationships that challenge the viewer’s perception, creating a dynamic interplay between what the eye sees and what the underlying geometry dictates.
The result is a body of work that intersects architecture, music, and theater, continuing a journey that has taken his art across Europe, the Americas, and Asia—now extending meaningfully into Abu Dhabi Art 2024.
AWL
A Bridge Between Al-Andalus and the Gulf — A Cross-Cultural Vision
For AWL, this year marked its inaugural participation in Abu Dhabi Art, reflecting the gallery’s expanding presence in the region under the vision of co-founder Pepe Baena Diví, and in collaboration with Lateefa Bin Hamoodah, the Emirati cultural strategist whose work sits at the intersection of art, diplomacy, and social impact.
AWL’s curatorial identity centers on fostering a dialogue between the heritage of Al-Andalus in Spain and the cultures of the Gulf, MENA, the Caribbean, and Latin America—a narrative often overlooked in Eurocentric art histories.
Their Abu Dhabi presentation highlighted this vision, reinforcing the gallery’s dedication to socially conscious programming and conceptual practices. This includes prior collaborations such as the acclaimed installation by Barbadian artist Annalee Davis for the 2023 Sharjah Biennial, supported by the inaugural Getty Art & Sustainability Grant and Fellowship.
The gallery’s growing regional engagement also includes the representation of Emirati artists Sara Alahbabi and Aisha Alhammadi, marking a deeper investment in the UAE’s artistic landscape.
AWL’s presence at the fair was not simply participatory—it was strategic, signalling a long-term commitment to cultivating cultural exchange within the Gulf.
ATHR
A Leading Voice in Saudi Contemporary Art — Expanding Local and Global Impact
Since its establishment in 2009 by Mohammed Hafiz and Hamza Serafi, ATHR has been a defining force in shaping Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art movement. Its participation in Abu Dhabi Art 2024 reaffirmed its role in bringing Saudi artistic narratives to global platforms and fostering dialogue between artists and audiences across the region.
Representing an exceptional roster of Saudi and international artists, ATHR supports its community through mentorship programmes, pioneering exhibitions, and collaborations with prominent institutions such as The British Museum, The Smithsonian, the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Louvre.
The gallery’s expansion into AlUla and JAX District in Riyadh has further strengthened its cultural footprint, creating vibrant spaces for experimentation, innovation, and artistic exchange.
At Abu Dhabi Art, ATHR showcased its commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists, promoting thoughtful art collecting, and building a sustainable cultural ecosystem rooted in Saudi Arabia’s evolving creative landscape.
More than a gallery, ATHR is a movement—one that continues to push boundaries and redefine the future of art in the Kingdom and beyond.
