In a country developing as rapidly as the UAE, it’s not unusual to pass by construction. Whether it’s housing, record-breaking skyscrapers or new cultural buildings, the Emirates is in constant flux. In such a fast-paced environment, it can be difficult to slow down – but artist Afra Al Dhaheri is calling for exactly that in her pieces.

Having served as one of the founding members of BAIT15, an artist-run studio formerly located in downtown Abu Dhabi, and with exhibitions at Manarat Al Saadiyat and Green Art Gallery, Afra has had a significant impact on the UAE’s art scene. But becoming an artist wasn’t always in the cards.

Afra originally studied financial accounting at Zayed University before switching courses. While her parents were supportive, her father did question whether it was a viable career option – which Afra quickly proved. Alongside featuring in exhibitions, she now works as an Assistant Professor of Visual Arts at her alma mater, taking part in residencies at art spaces like The Watermill Center in New York over the summer break. 

Drawing on her experience growing up and living in Abu Dhabi, her mixed media works often make use of construction materials as a starting point. 

“You can’t live in a place and not be influenced by that place. If we were to look at Western painters in the past, their landscape was full of colour – my landscape is this,” says Afra. “Even if we go to the desert, it’s still a monotone, with two or three colours. For me, the most prominent and direct colour palette is this kind of dusty construction environment.”

When she was growing up in Abu Dhabi, Afra was always surrounded by change and renewal. “One of the most anchoring questions in my practice is: how do we coexist with fast-paced change? How does this rapid change affect our society, the culture, the individual? How does it affect today?” reflects Afra. 

With those questions top of mind, the artist has turned her attention towards the notion of finding time for contemplation in a climate of constant evolution. “I’ve been creating these pieces that are basically environments for you to exist in and just focus on one thing – to be immersed in the work and really be able to experience it at a slower pace,” shares Afra.

Some of her most recent pieces include Collective Exhaustion (2024), a large-scale construction set to an immersive sound and light work, and Split Ends (2021), a series of conceptual works using ropes and concrete to address the social constructs around hair. 

In what is perhaps her most significant work to date, Afra was one of five Emirati artists commissioned to create a piece next to Etihad Museum and Union House. The first project coming to fruition out of the Dubai Public Art initiative, the group was shortlisted to take the piece on individually, but Afra pitched the idea of working together. The result is aptly called the Union of Artists (2024). “We wanted to work together to kind of memorialise this moment in time in a way that reflects the tight-knit art scene of the UAE,” she explains. “I think it’s very rare that you’d find a group willing to split the prize, and we felt the work would speak to this moment in the future. We also felt it was a perfect representation of the union, given that it’s adjacent to Union House, where the first union document was signed among the Emirates.”

The art piece also acts as a benchmark for this moment in the history of the country. With the development of the Saadiyat Cultural District, communities like Alserkal Avenue and MiZa, and programmes like golden visas for international artists, the UAE art scene is rapidly changing, so it was important to create something that plants a flag in the present.

Afra often works with other artists – she has launched an assistantship programme which sees students in her classes working at her studio. And while it is true that they are learning from her, Afra feels the process benefits both parties. As she teaches, she says she is also growing as an artist, learning by helping graduates experiment with new materials and processes. Earlier this year, she also became a student herself, as one of ten creatives chosen to take part in the Numoo artists development initiative at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. The accelerator programme aims to help artists enhance their professional skills, offering assistance with things like applying for grants, developing proposals and creating an artist rider. With most of the other creatives working in the performing arts, Afra has taken the opportunity to both learn from her fellow artists and lean into her more experimental art, while also implementing her newly mastered skills in real life, which she says has made applications “a breeze”.

With galleries in the Saadiyat Cultural District set to open soon, and an increased focus on the UAE and the wider region from international collectors, expect to be seeing more of Afra’s work in the near future.

Follow @afra_aldhaheri on Instagram.