ArtDayME: Hassan Sharif: Gathering, an exhibition of large-scale sculptures and works on paper by the trailblazing conceptual artist (1951–2016), opens at Alexander Gray Associates, New York.

Featuring works from Sharif’s Objects series, the show highlights his transformative use of industrial materials and consumer goods, which he wove, bent, and bound into poetic, monumental forms.

Created during the UAE’s rapid economic transformation, these works adapt traditional practices to reflect a changing material culture, embodying Sharif’s belief that art can disrupt, provoke dialogue, and help viewers “rediscover everyday reality.”

Hassan Sharif (1 January 1951 – 18 September 2016) was an Emirati artist and prolific writer. He lived and worked in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is widely regarded as a central figure in contemporary and conceptual art in the region. Hassan Sharif was a founding member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and of the Art Atelier in the Youth Theatre and Arts, Dubai. In addition to his own markedly experimental practice, he was also a mentor to many artists in the UAE and the region. 

Photos credit: Alexander Gray Associates