Alongside these exhibitions, the museum will curate an exciting lineup of programmes and projects that will further enrich the visitor experience. These include educational workshops, interactive installations and engaging events that encourage active participation and dialogue. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming season promises visitors a world of creativity and cultural exchange.
Georges Hanna Sabbagh 1921
Oil on canvas
163 x 130,2 cm
Musée de Grenoble, Grenoble
Photo: © Musée de Grenoble, Cliché J
“Each exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi is a testament to our dedication towards offering unique and enriching experiences to our visitors,” said Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi. “We are proud to present the best of the worlds of the East and the West with these upcoming exhibitions, which not only celebrate the rich heritage of art but also encourage dialogue and appreciation for diverse artistic expressions. Our new season further solidifies the museum’s commitment to fostering dialogue, promoting cultural understanding and celebrating the beauty of human creativity.”
Our aim is to create a platform that transcends boundaries and brings people together through the universal language of art. These exhibitions will provide visitors with an opportunity to explore different artistic movements, cultures and narratives, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared human experiences.
Dr. Guilhem André, Acting Director of Scientific, Curatorial, and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi
The three upcoming exhibitions at Louvre Abu Dhabi are:
Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024 and the Richard Mille Art Prize (20 September 2024 – 15 December 2024)
The fourth edition of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here, in partnership with the luxury Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, will be curated by Simon Njami, a renowned independent curator, lecturer, writer and art critic who has curated many international exhibitions showcasing African contemporary artists. This year’s edition is inspired by the concept of Awakenings, and will be expanding to North Africa, alongside the GCC. This expansion is attributed to the expertise of curator Simon Njami in the region, reflecting the museum’s commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices. Shortlisted artists (nationals and residents) will have a unique opportunity to showcase their site-specific monumental artworks at Louvre Abu Dhabi. One winner will be chosen, by an esteemed jury panel, as the recipient of the esteemed Richard Mille Art Prize in December 2024.
Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances (16 October 2024 – 9 February 2025)
In partnership with Musée d’Orsay, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition will build upon the success of its major exhibition Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity. This exhibition will delve into the fascinating period known as Post-Impressionism, focusing specifically on the years between 1886 and 1905. These two decades were a time of immense artistic innovation and experimentation, marking the transition from Impressionism to the explosive emergence of the “fauves” at the Salon d’Automne. The exhibition will be curated by Jean-Rémi Touzet, conservator for paintings at the Musée d’Orsay, and Jérôme Farigoule, Chief Curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the support of Aisha Alahmadi, Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi. One of the highlights of this exhibition is Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece, Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles. This iconic artwork—which depicts van Gogh’s bedroom in the “Yellow House” in Arles, where he set up his studio and lived from September 1888—represents the essence of Post-Impressionism and its departure from traditional artistic conventions. Other key highlights from the Arab world are two masterpieces by Egyptian artist Georges Hanna Sabbagh: The artist and his family at La Clarté (1920) and The Sabbaghs in Paris (1921).
Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power (29 January 2025 – 25 May 2025)
In partnership with musée du quai Branly, Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power celebrates the rich history and cultural heritage of African royalty by showcasing carefully selected material extracts from various regions of the continent. With a collection of around 300 objects, including external loans, this exhibition will deliver a diverse and intriguing exploration of the culture and beliefs that are intertwined with the lives of African kings and queens. The exhibition will be curated by Hélène Joubert, Head Curator of the African Heritage Unit at musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, with the support of two associate curators: Malick Ndiaye El Hadji, Curator of the Théodore Monod Museum of African Art IFAN-Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, and Cindy Olohou, an independent curator, as well as Mariam AlDhaheri, Curatorial Referee at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Among the many unique artworks set to be on display is an Ife Head from Nigeria (12th – 14th century) on loan from musée du quai Branly. The exhibition aims to provide visitors with an enlightening experience that will deepen their understanding and appreciation of African royalty.
In addition to its diverse line-up of exhibitions, Louvre Abu Dhabi will relaunch its White Canvas project, which takes the museum’s artistic vision to new heights by utilising the museum’s architecture as a blank canvas, to transform outdoor areas of the museum into an external exhibition space through temporary art projections. Extending the gallery space into the museum’s park and surroundings for a seamless artistic experience, the museum will become an even more integral part of the city’s artistic landscape. White Canvas will feature a range of exhibitions and happenings via art projections, inviting visitors to engage with art in a unique and immersive way. From the anticipated Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition, to the celebration of Emirati heritage, there will be something for everyone to feast their eyes on this season.
Significant Loan from Musée du Louvre
Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to unveil a thrilling array of new acquisitions and loans in its permanent galleries for the year. These additions include ancient, modern and contemporary masterpieces from around the world. A significant highlight and splendid Islamic artwork is the Pyxis in the name of Al-Mughira, on loan from the department of Islamic Arts at Musée du Louvre. This exquisite artefact, dating back over a millennium, will be on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi for the first time. Its departure from the Musée du Louvre marks a historic moment, allowing visitors in the UAE to appreciate its intricate craftsmanship and historical significance.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming season will also offer a diverse range of cultural and educational programmes to complement the exhibitions. From interactive workshops and lectures to guided tours, the informative and engaging event will provide visitors of all ages and backgrounds with a deeper understanding of the showcased artworks.
19th century
Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Paris
Photo: © musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac/Claude Germain
About Louvre Abu Dhabi
Created by an exceptional agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island in November 2017. The museum is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and its monumental dome creates a rain of light effect and a unique social space that brings people together.
Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and invites audiences to see humanity in a new light. Through its innovative curatorial approach, the museum focuses on building understanding across cultures: through stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies, and times.
The museum’s growing collection is unparalleled in the region and spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings, and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from 19 French partner institutions, regional and international museums.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is a testing ground for new ideas in a globalised world and champions new generations of cultural leaders. Its international exhibitions, programming and Children’s Museum are inclusive platforms that connect communities and offer enjoyment for all.
About Musée Du Louvre
Formerly a royal palace, the Louvre became a national museum in 1793, during the French Revolution. Its collections, divided among nine departments, encompass over eight millennia of world history. The 33,000 works of art on public display in the museum bring different cultures together, breaking the barriers of time and space and ensuring the Louvre is home to all kinds of artistic creation. Even before the Revolution, many artists had their workshops in the Louvre, and today it continues to welcome the greatest contemporary creators, thereby bringing its collections alive, boosting their contemporary relevance, and opening the museum ever wider to the world.
About The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.
For more information about the museum’s cultural and educational programmes, please visit Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website.
