The National | Top 12 Booths to See at Art Dubai

After a scaled-down event last year, Art Dubai returns to its home in Madinat Jumeirah with its most extensive list of participating galleries in its 15-year history.

Open to the public from Friday, March 11, the three-day art fair includes more than 100 contemporary, modern and digital galleries from more than 40 countries. More than half of this list is made up of names from the Global South, as Art Dubai furthers its aim of becoming the go-to for art outside of the typical western circuit.

Big-name galleries will still be present, from Perrotin — which has recently announced the opening of a 100-square-metre space in the Dubai International Financial Centre — to Galleria Continua, Templon and Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. Dubai's Meem Gallery, Green Art Gallery, The Third Line, Lawrie Shabibi, Ayyam Gallery and Leila Heller Gallery are also taking part.

Among the highlights of the fair is the modern section curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, who opted for muted gray walls instead of the usual bright white, allowing the colours of the works to take centre stage.

In addition, the Bawwaba section curated by cultural theorist Nancy Adajania brings together works by artists from Angola, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru and Nigeria to create a varied display.

Here are 12 booths you should not miss at Art Dubai this year:

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Aicon Gallery

Solo presentation of KS Kulkarni at Aicon Gallery's booth. 

Born in 1916, KS Kulkarni was known for his pictorial style that combined techniques of classical Indian painting and modernist elements. Studying at the JJ School of Art in 1940, he worked in textile design and went on to become a member of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society.

In this solo booth of the artist’s work at Aicon Gallery from New York, we see a range of works, from the artist’s semi-abstract portraits, made with bold and dark strokes, to more abstract and bright pieces.