'Chroma' Abu Dhabi art exhibition announcement

News: 'Chroma' Exhibition at Etihad Modern Art Gallery Abu Dhabi

Etihad Modern Art Gallery is thrilled to announce 'Chroma', a captivating new exhibition opening on 17th of July, showcasing the vibrant and dynamic works of celebrated contemporary artists from the UAE and the region. Featuring new paintings by UAE based popular contemporary artist Soraya Sikander.

'Chroma' invites visitors to experience a spectrum of colors through paintings, installations, and mixed-media pieces that evoke energy, mood, and creativity. The exhibition highlights the expressive potential of color as a universal language in art. Visitors can look forward to immersive experiences designed to engage the senses and inspire creativity.

The exhibition will run until 5th of September, welcoming art lovers, collectors, and the general public to explore this vivid celebration of color and form.

Exhibition Details: Title: 'Chroma' Location: Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi Opening Date: 17-07-2025 Closing Date: 05-09-2025 Gallery Hours: 8 am till 9 pm Contact: manager@etihadmodernart.ae Join us for the opening reception on 17th of July at 7:30pm for opportunities to meet the creators behind the artworks.

'CIRCLE OF LIFE' Oil on canvas by Soraya Sikander 2025. At Etihad Modern Art Gallery Abu Dhabi.

About Soraya Sikander (born in Pakistan) is an internationally recognized contemporary visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, calligraphy, and fresco techniques. Trained at the London Atelier of Representational Arts and the Slade School of Fine Art (University College London), Soraya's work is rooted in a rigorous study of classical art forms, which she reinterprets through a distinctly South Asian lens.

Soraya is best known for her innovative calligraphy landscapes—a unique synthesis of Islamic calligraphic forms with expressive, nature-inspired compositions. Her practice navigates themes of identity, migration, ecology, and the metaphysical, often incorporating Arabic script as a structural and symbolic element within her visual language. Influences range from British Romanticism to Indo-Persian fresco painting and Mughal manuscript painting, which she studied formally in Lahore.

Over the course of her career, Soraya has held more than twenty-six solo and group exhibitions across Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Notable venues include the Beijing International Art Biennale (2017, 2019), the Lahore Biennale, National Museum of Bangladesh, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Etihad Modern Art Gallery Abu Dhabi, Dibba Art Gallery Abu Dhabi, and Unicorn Gallery (Karachi, Dubai). Her works have been featured in auctions at Bonhams London and are held in private and institutional collections globally.

Soraya's recent focus on fresco painting, informed by traditional techniques such as naqqashi and manuscript illumination, marks a significant expansion of her practice into heritage preservation and cross-cultural discourse.

Her accolades include the Artist Talent Golden Visa (UAE, 2023), the Award Circle Abu Dhabi shortlist (2023), and recognition as Best Contemporary Landscape Painter – South Asia (UK Business Excellence Awards, 2020). She has lectured at academic institutions and participated in cultural forums, including TEDx. She holds a Masters degree in Art Education.

Through her hybrid visual language and commitment to cultural continuity, Soraya Sikander occupies a significant position in the discourse of contemporary Islamic and South Asian art.

About Etihad Modern Art Gallery: Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Modern Art Gallery is a leading platform for contemporary art from the UAE and beyond. Committed to nurturing creative expression, the gallery showcases emerging and established artists through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and community programs

Opening reception: On Thursday 17 July 2025 at 7:30 pm. Location: Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Bateen Area, Al Huwelat Street, Villa 15, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 62226. Email: manager@etihadmodernart.ae Telephone: 00971 56 537 2848