The second Edition of Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial opens in Al Ain on 23 October, followed by Abu Dhabi on 15 November 2026 (it runs across both locations until 15 February next year).
It’s curated by Elvira Dyangani Ose (right) – appointed artistic director of Cape Town’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MoCAA) in 2026, formerly director of Barcelona’s MACBA Contemporary Art Museum. Her theme for this PAAD Biennial is ‘Home: A Glossary for a Communal Sense of Place’ – approaching ‘home’ as an ever evolving, shared human experience rather than a mere static location.
The Biennial prioritises engagement, which is what most public art would hope for these days; the participating artists will aim to do this through “site-responsive installations, research-led practices and communal encounters embedded within civic landscapes … inviting audiences to interact with art while establishing meaningful connections between artists, communities and place”.
The roster of 21 names is a commendably interesting mix – only three from the UAE, which gives the opportunity to feature more international contributors from as far away as Jamaica, Colombia, Argentina and Ghana.
◙ Akram Zaatari Lebanon
◙ Asunción Molinos Gordo Spain
◙ blaxTARLINES Ghana
◙ Celeste Boursier Mougenot France
◙ Elena del Rivero Spain
◙ Ibrahim Mahama Ghana
◙ Iván Argote Colombia
◙ Jean-Marie Appriou France
◙ Kapwani Kiwanga Canada
◙ Khalid Al Banna UAE
◙ Laure Prouvost France
◙ Marinella Senatore Italy
◙ M’barek Bouhchichi Morocco
◙ Mercedes Azpilicueta Argentina
◙ Nari Ward Jamaica
◙ Reena Saini Kallat India
◙ Roudhah Al Mazrouei UAE
◙ Serge Attukwei Clottey Ghana
◙ Shama Al Hamed UAE
◙ Vica Pacheco Mexico
◙ Yinka Shonibare UK
The locations in Al Ain are Al Qattara Oasis and Al Towayya Roundabout; Reena Kallat, M’barek Bouhchichi and Asunción Molinos Gordo are featured there. In Abu Dhabi there are four – Souq Al Mina; Mina Zayed (MiZa); Saadiyat Cultural District (the park between Zayed National Museum and Louvre Abu Dhabi); and Hidd Al Saadiyat; presumably the remainder of the works will be distributed among them, but we don’t yet know who will be where. Check Instagram or the website for updates and hopefully a map …
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