The Sharjah Art Foundation has announced the artists participating in the 16th Sharjah Biennial, set to run from February 6, through June 15, 2025.
The exhibition, one of the premier international showcases of its kind, will feature more than 140 artists, including Arthur Jafa, Lorna Simpson, and Hugh Hayden. The works will be presented at venues across the United Arab Emirates, including Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, and Al Madam.
The biennial is titled “To Carry,” and curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz. Its theme, the biennial team said in a statement, is intended as “an open-ended proposition,” in which artists respond to the “ever-expanding” list of changes experienced by people and places, from the technological to the spiritual and moral.
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“The constellation of diverse methodologies that the five curators have gathered offers audiences the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking dialogues bridging the local context with global narratives about identity, movement, change, and collectivity,” said Hoor Al Qasimi, president and director of Sharjah Art Foundation, said in a statement. “By centering the act of carrying, Sharjah Biennial 16 offers a space for imagining new collective futures while recognizing the weight of shared histories and experiences.”
In a complement to this year’s Venice Biennale, the 2025 Sharjah Biennale prominently spotlights Indigenous artists, many of whom will feature in both shows. Artists in that group include Raven Chacon, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, include Faye Heavyshield, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Sky Hopinka, and Daniel Boyd.
The full artist list follows below. (*Participants presenting new commissions)
Adam HajYahia*
Adelita Husni-Bey*
Akinbode Akinbiyi
Akira Ikezoe*
Akram Zaatari
Albert Refiti
Alia Farid*
Aluaiy Kaumakan
Ana Iti
Anga Art Collective*
Arthur Jafa
Ayman Zedani
Ayşe İdil İdil
Betül Aksu and Okyanus Çağrı Camcı with Merve Elveren*
Ayumi Paul
Aziz Hazara*
Betty Adii with Septina Layan*
Bilna’es*
Bint Mbareh*
Brian Martin
Cannupa Hanska Luger
Cassi Namoda*
Cécile B. Evans*
Chandralekha
Chun Shao
Citra Sasmita*
Ciwas Tahos (Anchi Lin)
Claudia Martínez Garay
Concrete Thread Repertoire*
Daniel Boyd*
Dian Suci Rahmawati*
Dilek Winchester
Doruntina Kastrati*
Driant Zeneli
Ellen Pau*
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Emre Hüner
Fatma Belkıs
Faye Heavyshield
Fazal Rizvi*
Fernando Palma Rodríguez
Fiona Pardington*
Güneş Terkol*
Hashel Al Lamki*
Helene Kazan*
Hellen Ascoli*
Heman Chong
Hugh Hayden*
Hylozoic/Desires*
Ipeh Nur*
Joe Namy*
John Clang
Jorge González*
Julianknxx*
Kaili Chun
Kaloki Nyamai*
Kapulani Landgraf
Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler
Kate Newby*
Liu Chuang
Lorna Simpson
Luana Vitra*
Luke Willis Thompson*
Maïa Tellit Hawad*
Mabel Juli
Mahmoud Khaled*
Mangku Muriati*
Mara TK*
María José Murillo
Mariam Alnoaimi*
Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien
M’Barek Bouhchichi*
Megan Cope
M’hammed Kilito*
Michael Parekōwhai*
Mila Turajlić*
Mohammed Al Hawajri, Dina Mattar, and family with Ala Younis*
Mónica de Miranda*
Monira Al Qadiri
Morris Foit
Nadia Christidi with Sary Moussa and Joseph Kai*
Nadiah Bamadhaj
Naeem Mohaiemen*
Nasser Al Yousif
Ndidi Dike*
Nge Lay*
Noémie Goudal
Olivia Plender
Onur Gökmen
Paky Vlassopoulou
Pallavi Paul*
Pastizal Zamudio with Andrea Torreblanca*
Photo Kegham–Kegham Djeghalian
Pratchaya Phinthong*
Raafat Majzoub
Raffaela Naldi Rossano*
Rajni Perera*
Rajyashri Goody
Raven Chacon*
Reetu Sattar
Restu Ratnaningtyas*
Richard Bell
Risham Syed*
Rita Mawuena Benissan*
Rossella Biscotti*
Roy Samaha*
RRD (Reproduction and Distribution Network): Anuar Portugal, Bruno Ruiz, Joel Castro, Laura Muciño, and Sergio Torres
Rully Shabara*
S M Sultan
Saffronn Te Ratana*
Sakiya*
Salima Hakim*
Sancintya Mohini Simpson*
Sangdon Kim
Sarah Abu Abdallah*
Serapis Maritime*
Sevil Tunaboylu*
Shivanjani Lal*
Shubigi Rao
Singing Wells*
Sky Hopinka
Stephanie Comilang*
Steven Yazzie
Subash Thebe Limbu
Suzanne Lacy
T. Vinoja*
Tara Al Dughaither*
Te Matahiapo Collective*
The Voice of Domestic Workers x MOI TRAN*
Tishani Doshi*
Viswanadhan
Vitória Cribb*
Wael Shawky
Womanifesto*
Ximena Garrido-Lecca
Yhonnie Scarce*
Yim Yen Sum*
Yvonne Koolmatrie
Zadie Xa*