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“The fair of discoveries” is how artistic director Pablo del Val described Art Dubai 2025 during his opening remarks for the fair’s VIP day on Wednesday, March 16th. The Middle East’s leading art fair is returning for five days to the Madinat Jumeirah with a growing roster of more than 120 galleries representing 65 cities.

On the VIP day, the sprawling venue’s halls pulsed with anticipation as throngs of collectors bustled through the fair from morning until sundown. As the U.A.E. continues to grow as an art hub, the fair is well-positioned to further bolster its standing in a country that is drawing new galleries and collectors.

“The pace of change and innovation here is astonishing, and the market has evolved immeasurably since our launch in 2007,” said Art Dubai’s executive director, Benedetta Ghione. “We’re seeing a growing influx of artists and collectors relocating to Dubai from all over the world, which is already having a positive impact on the market.”

Highlights from Art Dubai 2025

While the number of galleries remains roughly the same as last year’s edition, Art Dubai 2025 includes 30 first-time galleries. The fair is split into four sections, the largest being Art Dubai Contemporary. Other sections include Bawwaba (meaning ‘gateway’ in Arabic); Magali–Art Dubai Modern; and Art Dubai Digital.

“What’s most exciting this year is that, of all the editions we’ve hosted in Dubai, this one is the strongest in terms of quality,” said del Val. “We’re striking a fantastic balance between emerging and established artists, creating a dynamic, intergenerational dialogue.”

Fostering this intergenerational dialogue seamlessly was local stalwart Lawrie Shabibi, who had adjoining booths in the fair’s Modern and Contemporary sections. The modern section showcased a solo display by Iraqi artist Mehdi Moutashar, with prices ranging from $12,000 to $85,000. The contemporary section, meanwhile, featured a group show with works by Shaikha Al Mazrou, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Elias Sime, and Saif Azzuz, priced between $5,000 and $500,000. Fellow local heavyweight Leila Heller Gallery presented across both sections as well, with a never-before-exhibited 1966 work by Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess titled Starry Night in the Modern section, and a group contemporary booth, “Resonance of Body, Soul, Faith, and Loyalty in the Romance of Leila and Majnun.”

Garden of Forgetfulness, 2008
Samira Abbassy

Richard Saltoun

The Modern section also featured strong presentations from the Indian gallery DAG, which showcased works by famed modernist M.F. Husain, and a compelling debut by London’s Richard Saltoun Gallery. Their booth included works by three artists featured in last year’s Venice Biennale main show: British Italian minimalist Romany Eveleigh, renowned Mozambican Portuguese modernist Bertina Lopes, and Austrian Italian Greta Schödl, a pioneering figure in text-based art. Also featured are works by Iranian American Samira Abbassy; the calligraphic works of Palestinian Maliheh Afnan; and Malaysian Australian Simryn Gill.

“Dubai, and the U.A.E. in general, is one of the most interesting and growing markets that we work with,” said Richard Saltoun director Niamh Coghlan. “The institutional collections, foundations, and private collections are curious, active, and engaging to work with. Having worked with several major museums and foundations over the past few years in the region, we knew we had to take a more active role and be more present.”

Sour Lives, 2024
Mirna Bamieh

NIKA Project Space

Sour Jars, 2023
Mirna Bamieh

NIKA Project Space

That shared sentiment was echoed across the fair. Just days before the fair opened, Perrotin inaugurated its new space in the heart of the Dubai International Finance Centre, near Sotheby’s and Christie’s. At the fair, the gallery presented standout works by Monira Al Qadri, alongside pieces by Takashi Murakami, Lee Bae, Shim Moon-Seup, and others, priced between €4,300 ($4,891) and $400,000.

Notable presentations across the Contemporary section included a shared booth by local galleries NIKA Project Space and Iragui Gallery—a model that the two galleries also share in Paris. The diagonally split booth includes works by Mirna Bamieh, Kazan artist Nazilya Nagimova, and Adrian Pepe. Fellow local gallery Tabari Artspace debuted works by Saj Issa, while London’s Grosvenor Gallery presented a dual display examining masculinity in contemporary Pakistan through works by Faiza Butt and Anwar Saeed—who was once Butt’s artist’s professor.

In the Bawwaba section, dedicated to booths featuring artworks made in the past year or specifically for the fair, Abu Dhabi’s IRIS Projects made a strong debut with a captivating presentation of works by Abdulla Al Othman. The artist’s site-specific installation continues his “Language & The City” series, previously shown at the Lyon Biennale, that examines the linguistic and architectural changes of Riyadh.

Notable among the sections of Art Dubai is Digital, which launched in 2022 and is dedicated to digital art: perhaps the strongest commitment by a major fair to one of the art market’s fastest evolving segments. Highlights here include Dubai and Geneva-based gallery espace, which is presenting The Digital Mirage by Ralph Khoury—an immersive work that engineers digital landscapes, drawing viewers into illusions nearly indistinguishable from reality. Nearby, TAEX showcased works by Krista Kim, Tatsuru Arai, and others, delving into themes of time, nature, and human perception—each exploring the notion of contingency.

Dubai’s growing art scene

While Art Dubai drew the crowds on its VIP day, it was far from the only art highlight for visitors to peruse in the city.

What many galleries and collectors seem highly interested in is the pioneering presence of Alserkal Avenue. Founded in 2008, a year after Art Dubai’s launch, the district is home to many of the country’s leading galleries. With its own programming, foundation, and advisory, it supports public art commissions and commercial galleries. Alserkal Art Week, held in conjunction with the fair, brought added momentum to the city.

At the heart of the avenue, Concrete—a striking venue for ambitious installations—featured the show “Vanishing Points” by the Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi. Curated by Alserkal director Nada Raza with support from premier Indian gallery Nature Morte, the show marked Qureshi’s debut at Concrete. It featured site-specific works using charpais (Indian cots), alongside a well-received infinity room video installation, paintings, and photographs—a medium the artist is exhibiting for the first time. A leading figure in the Lahore school of Indian Persian miniature painting, Qureshi explained that the show was inspired by lived experiences from back home in Pakistan.

The pixelated and patterned charpais embodied multilayered connotations. The red and blue stars bordering the cots suggested wind currents—hawa—through directional arrows. Embedded within these movements were references to the American flag, symbolizing the country’s global influence.

Another highlight drawing attention was the relocation of influential local name Efiɛ Gallery to Alserkal. The gallery, which was founded in 2021, focuses on the advancement of artists of African origin, both from the continent and its diaspora. “Being in Alserkal enhances our presence within the region’s dynamic arts ecosystem, providing an ideal platform to further expand our programme through the presentation of large-scale artworks and installations,” said co-founder Kwame Mintah.

Previously based in Al Khayat Art Avenue, Efiɛ now sits prominently near the entrance, across from Leila Heller Gallery. The gallery opened with a solo presentation by María Magdalena Campos-Pons. “The gallery has always been committed to introducing new audiences to visual art and breaking down barriers within gallery spaces, something that also resonates with the Alserkal mission,” Mintah added. At the fair, the gallery also presented a watercolor triptych by Campos-Pons, along with works by Hugh Findletar, Abdoulaye Konaté, and J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije.

Altogether, Dubai’s art scene is poised to gain further momentum. According to the Dubai Statistics Centre, the city’s population grew last year by more than 169,000, its highest rate since 2018. Its attractive tax regime, simplified visa processes, and consistent sunshine were among the draws cited for its expat appeal.

From the ongoing Sharjah Biennial 16 to the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (both within two hours of Dubai), the city is a lynchpin in a country that now has cultural offerings rivaling other global art hubs. As for Art Dubai’s future, fair director Dunja Gottweis echoed del Val’s sentiment: this truly is “the fair of discoveries,” and there is still much more to come.

The post Cathy Doutreligne: Capturing the Ephemeral in Light and Space appeared first on AATONAU.

‘The Golden Thread 2: A Fiber Art Show’ returns with more than 100 artworks made by 60 artists from around the globe.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article With 60 Artists, ‘The Golden Thread’ Weaves Together a Survey of Contemporary Fiber Art appeared first on Colossal.

They say that fortune favors the bold, and this year’s interior design trends are taking note. Presentations at Milan Design Week 2025 and Paris’s PAD 2025 show that color, pattern, and experimental form are being welcomed with open arms today. While maximalism is still an important look in the contemporary home, quiet luxury’s influence has crept into 2025 interior designs. Comfort, relaxation, and monochromatic spaces are in the zeitgeist.

However, neutrals be gone: In the cutting-edge visions shared by designers color is a champion, often inspired by the great outdoors. Interior designers say their clients are seeking spaces that reflect not only their unique vision of a sanctuary, but their distinct personalities, and they are willing to take design risks with materials, textures, and furnishings to achieve it.

“What makes a space feel special today is the mix: a classic paired with a sculptural piece by a living artist, something handmade, or even a found object with a story behind it,” said Los Angeles–based designer Anne Dereaux. “That’s where the soul comes in.” The result is rooms that set a mood—whether starting the party or turning it down—through designs that encourage holistic well-being at home. These six interior design trends are ruling the home in 2025.

Material drenching

Last year, designers and homeowners were all-in on all-over color, or “color-drenching.” When the ceiling, walls, trim, and molding are all painted the same shade, the color’s effect is even more significant. 2025 interiors reflect a natural, but more textural, evolution of this trend: material drenching. The term, first coined by Los Angeles–based designer Jake Arnold, describes the decorating an entire room with one material, whether wood, stone, plaster, fabric, or something else that is more tactile than paint. Not only does material drenching achieve an elevated look, but it also gives a room more dimension and enhances its mood-boosting qualities.

Like many trends, this one reflects interior design history, recalling paneled, papered, or plaster-clad spaces in luxe homes from the 1920s. This year’s material renditions skew lighter and brighter overall and are sometimes mixed with shinier surfaces to avoid making spaces feel smaller than their true square footage. “Textured walls have been a staple for a while now, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere,” explained Dereaux. “But lately, I’ve also been enjoying the use of heightened reflective materials—high-gloss paints, clever mirror placement—elements that add energy and play with perception.” More experimental homeowners may even be open to a fully mirror-drenched room: In those, strategically smoked mirror sections can help set the scene.

Evocative and enveloping spaces

Across the board, interior designers are prioritizing comfort and well-being in the home this year. Designers are responding to a near-universal craving for dramatically enveloping spaces, taking last year’s maximalism into a moodier realm. Dark wood cabinetry, plush textiles, and multi-layered drapery are prevalent in new projects. In particular, homeowners are becoming more open to the mix of bold color, pattern, and accessories. This trend is inspired by American 20th-century design legends like Sister Parish and Mario Buatta, who transformed the spaces of the country’s who’s who into romantic, whimsical, colorful visions of elegance.

At Milan Design Week this past April, French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon unveiled Villa Héritage, an interior home installation of eight lavish rooms at the Salone del Mobile fairground, bringing together traditional and contemporary design. Each room is defined largely by a rich hue that alludes to its design’s cultural inspiration. Vibrant red and plush velvets in the drawing room evoke theater curtains; while deep blue in the dining room brings to mind the sea, alongside a rich tapestry with chinoiserie references.

Meanwhile Dimoremilano, founded by Milanese design duo Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci, collaborated with luxury fashion brand Loro Piana on “La Prima Notte di Quiete,” an immersive installation of furniture and set design that pulls inspiration from sultry 1970s and ’80s forms and materials. Think dark burl wood, reflective surfaces, and round beds. Centering some of the cinematic drama is a large conversation pit, a throwback design element that’s also making a resurgence as the ultimate cozy cocoon.

Furnishings focused on craft

Since the pandemic, collectors have been increasingly interested in furniture designs with a craft aesthetic. According to Business Research Insights, the global market for arts and crafts—defined as things made with “one’s own hands and skills”—will reach $74.3 billion in 2033, up from $45.3 billion in 2024, a nearly 6% rise. An increasing focus on handmade objects in other industries has encouraged interior design to follow suit.

“Traditional craftsmanship is seeing a significant revival in furniture design, as consumers increasingly value quality, uniqueness, and sustainability,” said designer Laura Lubin, principal of Nashville-based Ellerslie Interiors, in a recent 2025 interior trends survey conducted by The New York Design Center. “Handcrafted pieces, with their attention to detail and timeless appeal, resonate with those seeking furniture that tells a story and stands the test of time,” Lubin continued. “This revival also reflects a broader shift toward supporting artisans and embracing slow design principles.”

At April’s PAD Paris fair, international gallery Maison Intègre was a standout for its display of handcrafted bronze furnishings and textiles. At the emerging design fair Alcova Milano, also this month, Istanbul-based Studio Lugo debuted a collection of stools, tables, and lighting made by hand using traditional Turkish artisan techniques and materials like horsehair, metal, and woven silk.

Furnishings with a handmade feel also tap into another prevailing interior trend: the desire for personalized spaces. “Even larger retailers are incorporating more craft into their offerings, often in turn highlighting new designers’ craftsmanship and bringing it to a larger audience,” explained Kelley Perumbeti, cofounder of San Francisco- and New York–based design studio Office of Tangible Space. The studio took this approach for its hand-upholstered Osvaldo collection of furniture with Kiki Goti’s hand-blown Murano glass vases at Alcova Milano this year. “This shift brings a handmade feel into spaces; it gives them character and a feeling that creates points of connection to not only the piece itself, but the artist or maker too.”

Nature-inspired colors

Following 2024’s trend toward earthy hues, 2025 is seeing the nature-inspired palette expand to greens and blues of all shades. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2025 trend reports, 71% of designers prefer a colorful kitchen to the all-white designs, long a staple in the trade. In those rooms, as well as in bathrooms, verdant or azure color schemes are trending this year, the reports reveal. Looking to the future, designers are now seeing clients interested in their use across the home.

“We saw brown and burgundy have a major moment last year, not just in interiors but across fashion…If I had to guess what’s next, I’d say light blue is on the rise,” says Dereaux. “That said, color is deeply personal. It’s about mood, memory, and how someone wants to feel in a space.” Since the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders have ended, more residents are interested in strengthening their houses’ connections to the outdoors. These nature-inspired shades provide an easy way to reference the garden and tap into the calming feelings it brings.

“All of our current project palettes are deeply rooted in the landscape surrounding the homes we’re designing,” said New York City–based designer Kathleen Walsh in The New York Design Center survey, where the majority of her peers predicted that earth tones and neutrals would dominate interiors in 2025. “By connecting inside with what’s outside, we’re often working with a palette of softer hues as a foundation, punctuated with vibrant surprises that provide energy to a space.”

When designers do want to go bold with color, pairing statement hues with natural materials can achieve a sophisticated look.

“All of our current project palettes are deeply rooted in the landscape surrounding the homes we’re designing,” said New York City–based designer Kathleen Walsh in The New York Design Center survey, where the majority of her peers predicted that earth tones and neutrals would dominate interiors in 2025. “By connecting inside with what’s outside, we’re often working with a palette of softer hues as a foundation, punctuated with vibrant surprises that provide energy to a space.”

When designers do want to go bold with color, pairing statement hues with natural materials can achieve a sophisticated look.

Sustainable and durable designs

Beyond the choice of color on their home’s walls, residents are increasingly concerned about encouraging well-being inside the house. This has led to a rise in interest in interiors that employ sustainable, natural, and long-lasting materials in 2025.

“Clients are more aware of the materials being used in their home,” said Perumbeti. “One of our recent clients requested to not use any plastic-based products in the architecture or design, including in light switch plates and electrical covers. Others simply want to select furniture and finishes that are natural and pieces that will last a lifetime.” During Milan Design Week, New York–based design firm Rockwell Group collaborated with cork producer Corticeira Amorim and nonprofit Cork Collection on an ambitious exhibition, “Casa Cork,” dedicated to the interior uses of the renewable material. Centered around a large facsimile of a cork tree made of cork itself, the show displayed seating, tables, wallcoverings, fabric, and more. The whole cork-based arrangement encouraged visitors to sit, touch, and enjoy sustenance from the cork bar. This spotlight on the 100% renewable material felt well-timed, as did other presentations across the city during Design Week. Sustainable furnishings were everywhere, from fabric made of mycelium, to circularly harvested plant root acoustic panels, to lighting made of waste oyster shells.

There’s also a growing awareness that sometimes, the most sustainable building option is doing nothing at all. “Since 2020, clients have become more intentional,” says Dereaux. “With construction costs up over 30%, there’s a shift toward working with what’s already there, finding beauty in the existing conditions instead of starting from scratch.”

Sumptuous textures

What says comfort more than a softness you can feel? Even in quiet luxury-driven interior designs, soft, billowing drapery and plush furniture are trending, marking the beginning of a return to romanticism. While this century’s amorously-inspired rooms utilize less chintz and favor supple, satisfying textures, the appetite for sumptuous spaces is present all the same.

Venetian plaster and Moroccan tadelakt have long been popular in bathrooms. Now, they’re being used in larger spaces throughout the home. Wallpapers that appear textured can also provide a similar feel and mood. In Milan, Canada-headquartered lighting brand Bocci used a watercolor-like wallpaper by Calico Wallpaper above bedroom wainscotting in its Milan apartment-cum-showroom Design Week presentation with Orior and The Future Perfect. In practice, balance is the best way to employ material dimensionality without overwhelming a design.

“Deep, dark wood finishes and rich fabrics like velvet and mohair are gaining popularity as homeowners gravitate toward spaces that feel luxurious yet inviting,” said Lubin. “Their resurgence reflects a move away from minimalism toward richer, more character-filled interiors.” While that character is often a reflection of the homeowners themselves, context should always play a role too.

“Clients have become much more design- and architecture-savvy in recent years, especially with how much inspiration is available online,” said Dereaux. “They’re not just interested in creating something new, they’re looking for spaces with story and history, and they want to honor that in how the interiors come together.”

Enjoy the colorful portfolio of artist JL Schwartz, who blends abstract and organic influences in her work.

The post Featured Artist JL Schwartz appeared first on Artsy Shark.