ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Sharjah Biennial 15 Opens with Over 300 Works Across Five Cities

exhibition · 2026-04-20

The Sharjah Biennial 15, themed Thinking Historically in the Present, is set to commence on 7 February 2023, spanning 19 locations across five cities in Sharjah: Al Dhaid, Hamriyah, Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Sharjah. This event, which celebrates its 30th anniversary, was envisioned by the late Okwui Enwezor and is curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, the Director of Sharjah Art Foundation. Over 150 artists and collectives from more than 70 nations will showcase over 300 artworks, including 70 new pieces, along with performances, music, and film. The biennial, which is free to the public, will continue until 11 June 2023, featuring performances by artists such as Gabriela Golder and Youssou N’Dour.

Key facts

  • Sharjah Biennial 15 runs 7 February to 11 June 2023.
  • Conceived by Okwui Enwezor and curated by Hoor Al Qasimi.
  • Over 150 artists from more than 70 countries participate.
  • More than 300 artworks, including 70 new commissions, are presented.
  • 19 venues across five cities: Al Dhaid, Hamriyah, Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Sharjah.
  • Major commissions by John Akomfrah, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Doris Salcedo, Berni Searle, Barbara Walker.
  • Performances by Gabriela Golder, Hassan Hajjaj, Rachid Hedli, Tania El Khoury, The Living and the Dead Ensemble, Aline Motta during opening week.
  • Musical performances by Youssou N’Dour and Abdullah Ibrahim in March and April.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • Sharjah
  • Al Dhaid
  • Hamriyah
  • Kalba
  • Khorfakkan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • The Flying Saucer
  • Kalba Ice Factory
  • Bogotá
  • Colombia
  • Hyderabad
  • India
  • Jouneih
  • Lebanon
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Tehran
  • Iran
  • Akkar
  • Mexico City
  • Al Hamriyah Studios
  • Bank Street Building
  • Calligraphy Square
  • Bait Al Serkal
  • Ottawa
  • Canada

Sources

Related stories