Two new exhibitions open at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation | Things to do in Abu Dhabi

The Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi has unveiled two major exhibitions that celebrate both the legacy of Emirati art and fresh contemporary perspectives.

Running until 22 February 2026, Two Clouds in the Night Sky and And After invite the community to explore how artists in the UAE and beyond are engaging with nature, memory, and language in innovative ways.

Two Clouds in the Night Sky - Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim

A pioneer of the UAE’s conceptual art scene, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim brings a deeply personal body of work to Cultural Foundation’s flagship solo exhibition. His practice, shaped by the landscapes of Khor Fakkan and his meditative approach to drawing and sculpture, is presented here across four sections: In Transit, Traces Made Visible, Shapeshifters, and Where the Land Turns to Play.

Highlights include cloud and insect series, rarely seen works such as Sitting Woman Only One (2010), and archival pieces like Draped Trees (1996). At the heart of the show is a new commission, Time | Place | Void (2025), an installation that brings his line drawings into architectural form. Another commission, Touchable (2025), breaks new ground as his first work designed for tactile interaction. Outdoors, visitors can also encounter Al Ain Oasis (2023), originally commissioned by Abu Dhabi Art.

The exhibition also revisits Ibrahim’s landmark 1991 solo show at the very same venue, reconnecting audiences with Untitled, a rare painting first displayed over three decades ago. It’s a full-circle moment that bridges past and present, showing how his practice continues to evolve while staying rooted in the UAE’s natural and cultural environment.

And After: A Collective Exploration of Air

Running alongside Ibrahim’s exhibition, And After is curated by Dirwaza Curatorial Lab and features a diverse group of artists including Razan Al Sarraf, Mohammed Kazem, Ammar Al Attar, Ayman Zedani, and more.

The exhibition draws inspiration from Arabic terminology for air and its states — Sukoon (stillness), Hawa (gentle air), Naseem (breeze), and Riyah (winds). Through these shifting elements, the works reflect on the subtle yet powerful ways nature influences perception, language, and cultural identity. As the capital welcomes the cooler months, the show captures the serenity of seasonal transitions and the poetic pause between movements, breaths, and moments in time.

Both exhibitions are free to enter and open to all, reaffirming Cultural Foundation’s role as a hub for creativity, cultural dialogue, and artistic discovery in Abu Dhabi.

For details, visit culturalfoundation.ae.

Click here for more things to do in Abu Dhabi