Gail Spaien's 'Arranging Flowers' Inaugurates Taymour Grahne Projects' Dubai Space

Taymour Grahne Projects opens its first permanent space in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, with 'Arranging Flowers,' a solo exhibition by American artist Gail Spaien, running from 18 September to 20 November 2025. The show introduces Spaien's latest body of work to the region, featuring paintings that explore domestic space, floral arrangement, and visual perception. Spaien, born in 1958 and based in Maine, has exhibited across the US for over three decades. Her practice uses decorative elements and flattened perspective to disrupt pictorial conventions. The works draw on ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and evoke surrealist influences like Magritte's 'The Portrait' (1935). Key pieces include 'Waypoints,' depicting a blue moon over the ocean, and 'Habitat,' a legless table with ceramic vessels. The exhibition marks the gallery's 12-year anniversary since its founding in New York in 2013. Founder Taymour Grahne stated that Spaien's work creates space for reflection on nature and memory, resonating with the gallery's new chapter in Dubai. Spaien described the body of work as an optimistic way to connect with others, comparing painting to arranging a bouquet.