Dubai’s cultural map gains a new landmark this November with the opening of Dom Art Projects, a private art institution founded by Alisa Bagdonaite and Anna Pumpyanskaya.
Located in Al Khayat Avenue, within the Al Quoz Creative Zone, the opening weekend invites the community to discover the space through a series of exhibitions, installations and talks from 27 to 29 November.
The female-led platform positions itself as both a contemporary art space and a home for creative exchange. It combines museum-grade exhibitions, three residency studios and Dubai’s first dedicated art and culture bookshop, alongside a year-round programme of workshops, tours and public talks.
“Dom Art Projects was founded to foster dialogue, discovery, and engagement with the arts. As Dubai’s creative economy expands, we are proud to play a role in this movement by creating a space that supports artists, connects local and global perspectives, and brings communities together. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and we are building relationships with a close-knit network of arts practitioners to develop new partnerships, exhibitions and initiatives,” says Anna Pumpyanskaya, Director of Dom Art Projects.
“We want Dom Art Projects to be a place that fosters creativity where artists, researchers, curators, and the art-curious come together to share ideas and reimagine possibilities,” adds Alisa Bagdonaite, Chief Curator of Dom Art Projects.
Continuing that spirit of collaboration, Dom Art Projects has partnered with Bayt AlMamzar on an open call for emerging UAE-based artists, offering the selected participant a dedicated studio within the institution’s residency programme. Applications are open until 20 November via the Dom Art Projects website.
As part of the opening weekend celebrations, the institution will unveil its inaugural exhibition, inspired by the concept of time. A theme that mirrors Dom Art Project’s spirit of continuity and connection across cultures. The idea of time also plays on the meaning of ‘dom’ in the Arabic language, which means ‘always.’
Occupying the main exhibition hall, Japanese artist Michiko Tsuda presents "You Would Come Back There to See Me Again the Following Day," an immersive installation shown in the UAE for the first time. Another showcase by Russian artist ::vtol:: is a science art object ‘Takir’, a kinetic sound sculpture reflecting on the disappearance of the Aral Sea and the cyclical nature of geological time.
Throughout the opening weekend, visitors can join artist talks with both Michiko and ::vtol::, explore the artist studios, and browse the curated selection of books, described by the founders as a collection of “time machines” that connect readers to ideas that transcend eras and borders.
Visit: domprojects.art
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
