Institute of Art Lagos

The Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, has appointed Elvira Dyangani Ose as the Artistic Director of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial 2026. This appointment is part of the department’s commitment to developing international art platform within the city of Abu Dhabi.

Dyangani Ose is the current Director of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). She is widely respected for her curatorial practice, which focuses on contemporary art, global narratives, and cultural exchange. She is known for her ability to change how history is told through art. Most of her works focus on how artistic practice can change cultural narrative and transform environments. One of her most recent works include Project a Black Planet – The Art and Culture of Panafrica (2024 – 2027) which Ose co-curated, Coco Fusco. Considering the infrastructural development and the cultural background of Abu Dhabi, her appointment offers an opportunity to enhance the visibility and impact of public art initiatives in the Emirate. In her new role, she will lead the curatorial vision for the second edition of the biennial.

The upcoming edition of Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial (Abu Dhabi Biennial 2026) is scheduled to open in autumn 2026 and will run through 2027. The event will present large-scale public artworks across key locations in Abu Dhabi. The biennial aims to deepen public engagement with art by placing works directly within the city’s urban and community spaces. Although there will be more focus on non-western perspective, it will help transform the city’s landscape and create a platform for historical and cultural display, showcasing the nation’s pride and the artistry of human imagination.

Dyangani Ose’s appointment is an ambitious and thoughtful step for the biennial, and shows Abu Dhabi’s position as an important center for contemporary art and cultural development, not just in Western Asia, but globally.

Source: Canvas News