The artists of the 16th Sharjah Biennial have been announced
The biennial, titled “to carry,” is curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz.
Iran Art: The Sharjah Art Foundation has released the list of artists participating in the Sharjah Biennial 2025. The 16th edition of the biennial, scheduled for February 6 through June 15, 2025, will see contributions from more than 140 artists, including Arthur Jafa, Hugh Hayden, and Lorna Simpson. The works will be presented at various venues across Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, and other locations in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
The biennial, titled “to carry,” is curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz. The theme is meant to be “an open-ended proposition,” allowing artists to examine the various burdens, legacies, and experiences that people and societies have carried throughout history, particularly addressing themes of identity, migration, and collective memory.
“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. “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.”
The 2025 Sharjah Biennial prominently features a diverse array of Indigenous artists, echoing the representation seen at this year’s Venice Biennale. Indigenous artists featured in both biennials include Faye Heavyshield, Raven Chacon, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Sky Hopinka, and Daniel Boyd, among others.
In contrast to the 15th edition of the Sharjah Biennial, which presented 300 works, including 70 new commissions, the forthcoming biennial has increased the number of new works to 82. The full list of participating artists is as follows:
(*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*