The sixth edition explores “Confluences”, bringing together artists from India, the Gulf and beyond to examine shared histories, migration, cultural exchange and identity. The exhibition runs from 11 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, with a US$60,000 prize awaiting the winner.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Louvre Abu Dhabi and Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille have announced the international jury and six shortlisted artists for the sixth edition of Art Here 2026 and the Richard Mille Art Prize. Selected from more than 300 proposals, the artists represent a diverse range of contemporary practices that investigate the relationships between culture, geography, memory and human experience. The exhibition, titled Art Here 2026: Confluences, will take place from 11 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 beneath Louvre Abu Dhabi's iconic dome. Curated by Kamini Sawhney, the edition marks a significant expansion of the initiative by welcoming artists from India alongside those connected to the Gulf region.
The exhibition reflects the longstanding historical, cultural and economic relationships between India and the Arabian Peninsula, examining how centuries of maritime trade, migration, artistic exchange and shared traditions have influenced societies on both sides of the Indian Ocean. Through installations, sculpture, photography, painting and experimental material practices, the six selected artists will interpret the theme Confluences, presenting contemporary perspectives on identity, belonging, displacement, transformation and cultural continuity.
Art Here 2026: Confluences — Where Histories and Cultures Meet
The theme Confluences draws inspiration from more than four thousand years of interaction across the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Ancient maritime routes connected India and the Gulf through trade, navigation, scholarship and the movement of people, establishing relationships that continue to influence contemporary cultural identities. These connections extended beyond commercial exchange. Travellers, merchants, scholars and communities introduced languages, artistic traditions, religious practices, food cultures and systems of knowledge that gradually became embedded in everyday life.
In the modern era, migration between India and the Gulf has added new dimensions to these relationships. The movement of workers, families and creative professionals has shaped the economic development, urban landscapes and cultural environments of the region. Under Sawhney's curatorial direction, Confluences explores these overlapping histories through contemporary artistic expression. The selected works examine separation and longing, mobility and belonging, shared memory, cultural hybridity and the transformation of materials and narratives.
Louvre Abu Dhabi's architecture becomes an integral part of the exhibition. The monumental dome, with its interplay of light, shadow and geometric patterns, provides a symbolic setting for ideas of movement, gathering and interconnectedness. The surrounding waters of the Arabian Gulf further reinforce the exhibition's references to maritime histories and cultural exchange.
Six Artists Shortlisted for Art Here 2026
The shortlisted artists represent Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and India. Their practices span traditional and experimental media, combining personal narratives with broader historical, political and cultural concerns.
1. Ahaad Alamoudi - SAUDI ARABIA | PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO & INSTALLATION
Born in 1991, Ahaad Alamoudi is a Saudi contemporary artist whose practice investigates history, representation and the construction of cultural identity within Saudi Arabia's rapidly changing social landscape. Working primarily with photography, video and print-based installations, she examines the relationship between inherited cultural narratives and contemporary visual language.
Alamoudi earned a BA in Visual Communication from Dar Al Hekma University in Jeddah in 2014 and an MA in Print from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2017, where she is currently pursuing doctoral research. Her solo exhibitions include Moving Mountains at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah (2024), and Heat Burns at Athr Gallery, Jeddah (2020). She has also participated in exhibitions at Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah, the New Museum in New York and the Saudi Arts Council's 21,39 programme. Her work frequently reinterprets historical representations through contemporary forms of image-making.
2. Almaha Jaralla - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | PAINTING, TEXTILES & INSTALLATION
Born in 1996, Emirati artist Almaha Jaralla explores memory, power, displacement and belonging through painting, sculpture and installation. Her practice frequently incorporates textiles, pigments, archival photographs and historical imagery to examine the relationship between personal experience and collective memory. Jaralla approaches archives as materials open to reinterpretation rather than fixed historical records. Through repetition, distortion and material transformation, she questions established narratives surrounding colonial histories, family relationships and inherited identities.
She holds a BFA from Zayed University and an MFA from New York University Abu Dhabi. Her work has been presented internationally, including Proximities at the Seoul Museum of Art (2025), Crude Memory in Kochi, India (2024), and Seham at Tabari Artspace, Dubai (2023). She has participated in the Vertygo Villa Clivio Residency in Italy and the Cultural Foundation Residency in Abu Dhabi.
3. Shamin Sharum - MALAYSIA / UAE | ARCHITECTURE, URBAN ART & INSTALLATION
Born in 1987, Malaysian artist and designer Shamin Sharum is based in Dubai. His multidisciplinary practice examines everyday urban environments, architectural structures, migration and the social relationships that emerge within rapidly developing cities. Trained in architecture at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia and the University of Greenwich in the United Kingdom, Sharum uses architectural thinking as a method of interpreting the built environment. His work explores the patterns, materials and spatial relationships that shape urban memory and collective experience.
His exhibitions include Rantau: An Artistic Expression of Visual Arts from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia at the Malaysian National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2024); Anatomy of a Square Foot at ILHAM Gallery (2022); and Table of Negotiation at the Saint-Étienne Design Biennale (2018). He was a recipient of the 2024 Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme and participated in the 2025 Bayt Al-Mamzar residency in Dubai. His selected work is titled Home is What We Carry, reflecting themes of mobility, memory and belonging.
4. Ravikumar Kashi - INDIA | PAPER ART, SCULPTURE & MIXED MEDIA
Born in 1968, Indian contemporary artist Ravikumar Kashi is recognised for his innovative use of handmade paper and his interdisciplinary approach to painting, sculpture, photography and installation. His artistic practice transforms paper from a conventional surface into an expressive sculptural medium, exploring the relationship between language, material, memory and visual perception. Kashi studied Fine Arts at Bangalore University and completed his master's degree at M.S. University, Baroda. He subsequently trained in handmade papermaking at the Glasgow School of Art and studied traditional Korean hanji papermaking at the Jang Ji Bang papermill in South Korea.
His work has been exhibited across India and internationally in London, Palo Alto, Shanghai and Italy, with paper-based works featured in biennials worldwide. He was shortlisted for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2026 and has received several international recognitions. Alongside his studio practice, Kashi is an active writer and educator. His selected work, Meghadutam, uses handmade paper produced from recycled denim and cotton rag pulp, reinforced with PLA, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary material experimentation.
5. Reena Saini Kallat - INDIA | SCULPTURE, DRAWING, PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Born in 1973, Reena Saini Kallat is an internationally recognised Indian contemporary artist whose multidisciplinary practice investigates political boundaries, migration, identity, memory and the relationship between people and territories. Working across drawing, sculpture, photography and video, Kallat frequently incorporates electric cables, rubber stamps, cartographic imagery and hybrid botanical forms to explore the tensions between movement and restriction, connection and separation.
Her work has been presented at major international institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul and Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan. Recent solo exhibitions have taken place at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai, Kunstmuseum Thun, Musée Guimet in Paris and Manchester Museum. Her artworks are represented in significant public and private collections, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Canada, Sharjah Art Foundation, KADIST and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Her selected work, Shorelines of Longing, connects with the exhibition's exploration of geographical boundaries, human movement and emotional relationships across territories.
6. Vivek Vilasini - INDIA | SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY & MULTIDISCIPLINARY ART
Born in 1964, Vivek Vilasini is an Indian multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans sculpture, photography, painting and mixed media. His work explores cultural identity, political structures, memory and the systems through which knowledge and historical narratives are constructed. Initially trained as a marine radio officer and educated in political science at Kerala University, Vilasini later studied sculpture with Indian crafts practitioners. His artistic approach combines traditional material knowledge with conceptual investigation and contemporary visual expression.
During the 1990s, Vilasini lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates, engaging with pioneering contemporary artists including Hassan Sharif, Hussain Sharif, Mohammed Ibrahim, Mohammed Kazem and Abdullah Al Saadi. His involvement in this formative period of the UAE's experimental art scene was acknowledged through exhibitions including Portrait of a Nation II at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi (2022), and Proximities at the Seoul Museum of Art (2025). His international exhibition history includes Art Basel Hong Kong, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Sharjah Biennale, MAXXI Rome, MOCA Shanghai and the Smithsonian Museum. His selected work is titled Dreamings in Arabia, resonating with the cultural histories and artistic exchanges between India and the Gulf.
International Jury for the Richard Mille Art Prize 2026
The sixth edition is supported by an international jury comprising four distinguished figures from the fields of contemporary art, museum leadership, curatorial practice and cultural patronage. H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan is an art collector and patron with extensive involvement in international cultural institutions. His institutional engagements include Tate's Middle East and North Africa Acquisitions Committee, the Centre Pompidou's Middle East Committee and Sharjah Art Foundation. He is also the Founder and Chairman of UAE Unlimited, an initiative that supported emerging artistic practices in the UAE.
Dr. Guilhem André, Director of Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, brings extensive experience in museum research, art history, collections and exhibition development. His participation reinforces the museum's commitment to artistic experimentation, research-based practices and contemporary cultural dialogue. Kamini Sawhney, guest curator of Art Here 2026, is a distinguished museum professional and former founding Director of the Museum of Art & Photography in Bengaluru. She is also a board member of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM). Her experience in museum leadership, public art and international curatorial collaborations contributes to the exhibition's cross-cultural perspective.
Maya Allison is the founding Executive Director of the Art Galleries and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi. Her curatorial leadership and contribution to contemporary artistic research have supported international dialogue and the development of ambitious exhibition programmes in the UAE. Together, the jury members bring perspectives from regional and international institutions, supporting a selection process that considers artistic innovation, conceptual strength, material experimentation and cultural relevance.
Kamini Sawhney: Guest Curator of Art Here 2026
Kamini Sawhney brings more than 15 years of experience in museum leadership, curatorial development, cultural programming and public engagement. She served as the founding Director of the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru, overseeing its development and physical launch in February 2023. Under her leadership, MAP also introduced a digital-first museum platform in December 2020, expanding public access to art during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work has consistently emphasised inclusivity, accessibility and the role of museums in connecting diverse communities. Sawhney subsequently served as Artistic Director of Public Art Projects for Bengaluru Hubba 2024–25 and 2025–26, a multidisciplinary arts festival. She was elected to the board of CIMAM for consecutive terms covering 2022–2025 and 2026–2028, becoming the first Indian to hold this position.
Earlier in her career, she headed the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai, developing collaborations with major institutions including Tate and the British Museum. In 2014, she was selected as one of the first Brooks Fellows at Tate Modern. Before entering the museum sector, Sawhney worked in journalism and served as Mumbai Bureau Chief for NDTV. Her professional journey reflects a sustained commitment to cultural storytelling, public engagement and greater representation of artistic perspectives from the Global South.
For Art Here 2026, Sawhney has developed a curatorial framework that connects historical maritime exchange with contemporary experiences of migration, cultural memory and material experimentation. Reflecting on the selection process, she described the proposals as diverse and ambitious, highlighting the artists' willingness to experiment with new materials, forms and concepts. She anticipates that the six selected practices will generate meaningful and sometimes unexpected conversations within the architectural setting of Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Richard Mille Art Prize: Supporting Contemporary Artistic Innovation
Established through the partnership between Louvre Abu Dhabi and Richard Mille, the Richard Mille Art Prize is an annual initiative dedicated to supporting contemporary artistic practice and providing international visibility to artists from the region and beyond. The prize is closely associated with the Art Here exhibition, which provides selected artists with an opportunity to develop and present ambitious works in one of the region's most internationally recognised museum settings.
The 2026 edition continues this collaboration by encouraging artistic approaches that challenge conventional boundaries between disciplines, materials and cultural narratives.
RICHARD MILLE ART PRIZE 2026 - US$60,000 - Award for the winning artist
The winning artist will be announced later in the exhibition season. The six shortlisted artists will develop their selected proposals for presentation at Art Here 2026. Beyond the monetary award, the initiative provides participating artists with an international platform for professional recognition, museum exposure and engagement with curators, collectors, cultural institutions and global audiences. The expansion of eligibility to include India reflects the growing cultural dialogue between South Asia and the Gulf, strengthening the prize's role as a platform for artistic exchange across geographical and disciplinary boundaries.
Art Here 2026 — Confluences
Exhibition Art Here 2026 — Sixth Edition
Dates 11 November 2026 – 28 February 2027
Venue Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Theme Confluences
Guest Curator Kamini Sawhney
Artists Six shortlisted artists
Prize US$60,000
Presented by Louvre Abu Dhabi in partnership with Richard Mille
Official information: Louvre Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Media Office
Through Confluences, the museum invites audiences to recognise culture not as a fixed inheritance, but as an evolving process shaped by movement, encounter, adaptation and exchange. With six artists selected from more than 300 proposals, an international jury and the US$60,000 Richard Mille Art Prize, the sixth edition brings together artistic ambition, curatorial research and cross-cultural collaboration. Art Here 2026 will be presented at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 11 November 2026 until 28 February 2027, with the Richard Mille Art Prize winner to be announced later in the season.
Editorial source: Louvre Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Media Office announcements, exhibition curatorial text and artist biographies supplied for this article.Art News | Museum Exhibitions | Contemporary Art | Art Awards | UAE Art Scene
Tags:Louvre Abu Dhabi, Art Here 2026, Richard Mille Art Prize, Confluences, Kamini Sawhney, Indian Contemporary Art, UAE Art, International Art Prize, Saadiyat Island, Contemporary Art Exhibition.