New space, new phase: Efie Gallery moves address in Dubai
- 05 Mar 2025
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Efie Gallery, the contemporary art gallery located in Dubai which specialises in the promotion of African artists both from the African continent and its global diaspora, is inaugurating a new two-storey, 4,400 square feet space in Alserkal Avenue next month, with a solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed Cuban artist, María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Following an extensive renovation led by the Mintah family, Efie Gallery Founders, in collaboration with Dubai-based architect Suhaira Yousif, the new space expands the gallery’s capacity to showcase immersive and large-scale installations by its roster of artists.
The relocation to a bigger space underscores the gallery’s commitment to representing and advancing artists of African origin even as it strives to foster cross-cultural artistic dialogue with the Middle East and its near abroad. Since its new home is in Dubai’s leading cultural district, Alserkal Avenue, it will enhance the gallery’s presence in the region’s dynamic arts ecosystem. The family-run gallery will continue to be directed by Kwame Mintah, its Co-Founder.
The opening exhibition coincides with Art Dubai, where Efie Gallery also participates as exhibitor. The purpose-built advanced space is designed to reflect the founders’ African spirit while prioritising artists’ needs. The gallery’s new home features a concrete, wood and steel aesthetic with a Barrisol Light ceiling providing a feeling of natural light in the main exhibition area — a 1,500 square feet ground-floor gallery with soaring 30-foot-high ceilings that allows artwork to take centre stage.
Efie Gallery’s hybrid approach to visual art and music will continue with an expanded Rekord Gallery, an immersive listening space accessed through a trap door, featuring 360° audio, mirrored ceilings and bespoke furniture. The space houses the gallery’s permanent collection of over 2,000 original vinyl and shellac records, dating from the 1940s to today, displayed across a combined length of 32 metres of wall shelving. In addition, Rekord Gallery will host rotating exhibitions from guest record collectors.
The opening exhibition I Am Soil. My Tears Are Water will present new works by gallery artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons, curated by Faridah Folawiyo (Apr. 14 – May 24). Focusing on flora and fauna native to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Campos-Pons examines diaspora and relativity — the idea that all life is intertwined. Hibiscus, sugarcane, and guava leaves, among other botanicals rich in floral and vegetal attributes besides their cultural significance, feature prominently in the show. Through painting, sculpture, and site-specific installation created in collaboration with multifaceted musician Kamaal Malak, the exhibition is an exploration of nature, spirituality and the interconnectedness of cultures and geographies.
Co-Founder and Director Kwame Mintah said: “This expansion is more than just a new space — it’s a statement of our commitment to creating deeper artistic exchanges between Africa, the Middle East, and the global diaspora. Alserkal Avenue provides the perfect environment for us to push boundaries, presenting ambitious exhibitions that challenge and inspire. We look forward to welcoming visitors into a space where art and music intersect in dynamic ways.”
Basmah El-Bittar, Director of Alserkal Avenue, said that “we are excited to welcome Efie Gallery to the Avenue. We’ve long admired their commitment to representing voices of artists of African origin, and their arrival marks a bold new chapter for our programme. Since 2008, Alserkal Avenue has been a home to artists, galleries, and creative concepts that challenge norms and break boundaries — and I truly believe Efie Gallery’s programme will spark new conversations and expand our community further.”
Planned exhibitions in the new space include a film and photography show featuring Kelani Abass, Sumayah Fallatah and Samuel Fosso, besides others, curated by Ose Ekore (May 29 – July 30); a show of modern African art, The Birth of a People, works from 1957-1999 (autumn 2025); and The Shape of Things to Come – curated by Dexter Wimberly (autumn 2025). María Magdalena Campos-Pons is a Cuban-born artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. She works primarily in photography, performance, audiovisual media and sculpture. She is considered a key figure among Cuban artists who found their voice in a post-revolutionary Cuba.
Since its inception in 2021, the opening of its permanent space in 2022 and relocation from Al Khayat Avenue to Alserkal Avenue now, Efie Gallery has established itself as a global platform for some of Africa’s most significant artists. It enables and supports cross-cultural exchange between Africa, the Middle East and beyond and in addition to its wide-ranging roster of artists and exhibitions, the gallery operates a residency programme that facilitates collaborations with local artists, institutions and community members, supporting artists to complete their narrative and fulfil their vision of their work.
Part of Dubai’s Al Quoz Creative Zone, set to become a world-leading hub for creativity and entrepreneurship, Efie Gallery aims to create a vibrant ecosystem for contemporary African art in the UAE. Its space also presents the gallery founders’ collection of rare vinyl and shellac records from around the world, celebrating the intersection of art and music. Efie is the Twi word for ‘home’, addressing the notion of belonging and how it is determined by culture, history and identity for communities across the world. Efie Gallery was founded by Ghanaian family consisting of Valentina, Kwame and Kobi Mintah. Alserkal Avenue is a cultural district located in Dubai’s Al Quoz industrial area. Established in 2008 by Emirati businessman and cultural patron Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, it was founded with a vision to foster a dynamic creative community and support cultural production.