Editions Debut Offers Audiences First Chance to Connect with Limited Edition Art and Design in the Region

Editions, the Middle East’s first-ever fair dedicated to limited edition art and design, will take place from 6 to 9 November 2024 at the Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week, with a line-up of regional and international design studios, galleries and collectives.

Established by the Art Dubai Group, Editions brings together the audiences and programming of the region’s two most successful fairs, Art Dubai and Downtown Design, aiming to expand the horizons of Dubai’s cultural offering with works not previously focused on in this region. The only platform for high-quality, limited edition works at varied prices in the Middle East, the fair sets out to open up the art and design world, presenting a new opportunity for broader audiences to engage with and connect with contemporary creatives.

Mette Degn-Christensen, Director of Downtown Design, said: “As art and design continues to intertwine with the city’s cultural fabric, Editions meets the growing demand for quality design through a curated selection of limited edition pieces. Our aim with this new fair is to provide visitors with a broader experience of discovery and opportunity to buy or commission works of independent designers from around the world, both established and undiscovered, that they would otherwise not have access to in this region.”

Pablo del Val, Art Dubai’s Artistic Director, commented: “We envision Editions to be an inviting space where cultural enthusiasts—whether collectors or curious newcomers—can explore, connect, and discover pieces that resonate with them. With a strong local presence where over 50% of our exhibitors are from Dubai, we aim to tell the story of the city’s evolving contemporary culture, building a community-focused platform with diverse entry points and making space for emerging talents to create new connections.”

Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President, Dubai Design District (d3) – part of TECOM Group, said: “Dubai’s maturing art and design landscape is opening its doors to the broader public, allowing individuals to be more active stakeholders and patrons than ever before. Editions captures the growing appetite for art ownership and discovery and offers a space where buyers at different stages of their journey can invest in meaningful, quality works. Providing talent with a credible platform to expand their profile through programmes like Editions represents our commitment as strategic partners of Dubai Design Week to foster a dynamic, collaborative creative community, contributing to the goals of the Dubai Creative Economic Strategy and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).”

Editions will debut with a diverse roster of exhibitors, featuring leading designers and galleries working across a variety of mediums – from prints and contemporary design to photography, ceramics, and works on paper. From internationally recognised design studios and galleries to emerging galleries presenting young talent, this selection brings together expertise, high-quality craftsmanship, and innovative artistic approaches.

Contemporary Design

Contemporary design at Editions will be showcased, featuring elevated functional objects that focus on form, innovative aesthetics, and high-quality craftsmanship. This includes custom sculptural works, alabaster conceptual lighting, bespoke furniture, collectible objects, glass creations, and stainless-steel pieces. Highlights include renowned multidisciplinary Emirati designer, Aljoud Lootah, who will unveil a new body of work, celebrating the 10th anniversary of her d3-based studio. Blooker Gallery, a collectible design gallery, will exhibit “Nain Objects” by Nian Architects Studio, a collection that reimagines minimalist industrial components into sophisticated timeless furniture pieces, and the multi-functional design space 1971-Design Space from Sharjah will present ‘Infinite Majlis: A Möbius Strip’, a sculptural design concept inspired by the Emirati cultural practice of gathering round a fire pit. Atelier Alain Ellouz will showcase limited edition lighting creations made in their distinctive alabaster savoir faire, while Dubai-based brand KAMEH will present its limited edition chairs, integrating artisanal wood-burning techniques and envisioning what a forest might look like in a desert landscape.

Ceramics

Exhibitors will showcase works in ceramics, including clay vases, stoneware, and porcelain. SANATORIUM, an artist initiative that continues to push boundaries, is joining the lineup with Ça?la Köseo?ullar?’s ‘road series’ where she explores possibilities of folding clay as a way of revising body memories. Hestia Gallery will present the work of Elsa Foulon, who embraces the unpredictability of the way in which fire shapes her large organic lights; the work of Roxane Lahidji, who specialises in creating luxurious objects from ecological materials such as salt; and Clotilde Ancarani’s modern designs that integrate organic elements. Waddington Custot will exhibit a ceramic tile piece by renowned Lebanese-American poet, essayist, and visual artist Etel Adnan.

Works on Paper

Works on paper will be discovered through a variety of techniques such as collage, coloured pen, watercolour, egg tempera on map paper, woodcut, cyanotype, and charcoal on paper. Comptoir Des Mines Galerie will present a spectrum of works on paper, including from Moroccan artist Mohammed Kacimi, known for his painted figures that were often reflecting an exploration of human mystery. Rarares Gallery will present Yüksel Dal who focuses on the relationships between humans and nature with his ballpoint on paper works. Under Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Armin Najib will present collage works on paper, born from a creative process that emphasises improvisation and the development of custom tools to bring his concepts to life, while Abdulrahim Salim will bring charcoal on paper works that depict the artist’s long-standing engagement with Emirati culture and the history of the Arabian Gulf.

Prints

Prints, works for which multiple iterations have been made through a method of pressing, will be presented in various forms such as lithography (works using a metal plate and a mixture of chemical and ink-repellent to transfer the drawing), monotype on paper, screenprinting (where the ink is transferred through a mesh screen), and serigraphy (works using a silk screen). Meem Gallery, known as a leading promoter of modern and contemporary Arab, North African and Iranian art, will present screenprints by Iraqi painter and sculptor Dia Azzawi, internationally recognised as one of the pioneers of modern Arab art, while British abstract artist Nat Bowen, known globally for her vibrant, multi-layered resin paintings, will bring a collection of limited edition prints using revolutionary high-rendering technology that maintains the depth, texture, vibrancy and relief of the painting.

Photography

The photography exhibits will highlight the medium’s artistic and narrative versatility. Gulf Photo Plus, spearheaded by Dubai’s photography pioneer Mohammed Somji, will present Hussain AlMoosawi’s ‘Facade to Facade’, which documents the UAE’s architectural heritage, Rehaf Batniji’s portraits of Gaza fishermen, Miro Mannino’s focus on Arabian fishermen, and Nadia Bseiso’s series on the transformation of land in modern Jordan. Mark Hachem Gallery will showcase masters of Latin American Cinetic Art such as Daniel Samper and Jose Margulis, in a focused presentation on contemporary photography, while Leila Heller Gallery will bring Shirin Neshat with a striking still from her Tooba series.

The fair will also host a series of conversations at The Forum, Downtown Design’s main talks programme. The talks will bring together artists, collectors, designers, and industry leaders to explore trends across three key pillars: the disruption of the art market, the value of editioned works, and the intersection of art, design and community identity. Featured discussions include The New Collector’s Playbook: Redefining the Art Landscape and The Art of Editions 101: Are Limited Editions Truly Valuable?, along with deep dives into photography and cultural placemaking.

Public tours will offer both novice and seasoned collectors insights into building and expanding their portfolios, while the diverse price range of works exhibited at Editions ensures accessibility for a wider audience, encouraging new collectors to begin their journey and giving seasoned collectors the chance to diversify and connect with talent from around the globe.

Tickets are available for purchase online at AED50 for a single ticket and AED80 for a three-day pass, which also give access to Downtown Design, the region’s leading fair for contemporary design.

To buy tickets and view the full exhibitor list, visit: https://www.editionsartanddesign.com