Abstract Universe of Art Smiley brings artists and viewers together in Dubai

Dubai based Art Smiley Gallery inaugurated the Abstract Universe art exhibition, a global celebration of contemporary abstract art featuring 25 artists from 13 countries (Nov. 1 – 20) in its gargantuan spaces in Al Quoz 2. The show has brought together art enthusiasts, collectors and design professionals, to experience a dialogue between colour, rhythm, and imagination.

The theme Abstract Universe explores how abstraction transcends language, geography and form, transforming emotion into visual poetry. Each artwork indicates a journey of personal perception and creativity, from textured canvases and calligraphic expressions, to photographic and digital interpretations.

“Abstract art is freedom in its purest form — a mirror of emotion and energy,” said Lurdh Allam, Co-Founder of Art Smiley Gallery. “With Abstract Universe, we aimed to connect global artists and audiences who seek meaning beyond representation, celebrating creativity without borders.”

The exhibition opened to a packed house, with artists, collectors, interior designers and art enthusiasts attending from across the UAE and beyond. The evening was inaugurated by Guest of Honour, Lina Bitar, Concept Creator and Interior Designer and Founder of LB Concept. In her opening remarks, she commended the gallery for fostering cross-cultural artistic exchange, emphasising the vital role of abstraction in shaping contemporary aesthetics.

Artwork by Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi.

A captivating highlight of the night was the live calligraphy presentation by Iranian-UAE artist Neda Matian, who brought her artwork Veil of Creation to life before the audience. Her rhythmic brushstrokes and layered gold and black compositions reflected the exhibition’s spirit — transforming the realism of life into the abstraction of art. The opening night also featured artist interaction, networking sessions, and an immersive showcase of more than 70 original artworks. It transformed the gallery spaces into a vibrant universe of colour, movement, emotion and camaraderie.

Featured artists, making up an exceptional lineup of global talent, include Alexander Dego (Russia/USA), transforming sound and colour into motion; Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi (UAE), creator of the acclaimed Mind Chaos series; Antonio Bocero Sánchez (Spain), balancing classical precision with modern experimentation; Alessandro Cardamone (Italy), evoking Mediterranean serenity through harmonious colour; Julio César Osorio (Colombia/UK), bridging photography and abstraction in Golden Years; Ruben Molina (Venezuela), exploring urban rhythm and cultural energy; Meghanad Ganpule (India), expressing light, silence and emotion through photographic abstraction; Thaier Helal (Syria/UAE), redefining texture and form through tactile landscapes; Dr. Anjini Prakash Laitu (India/UAE), the Colourman of Dubai, celebrating vibrancy and harmony; Gurumahesh Srinivasan (India/UAE), introspective textured abstraction exploring existence and transformation; Saliha Hanif (Pakistan/UAE), contemporary Arabic calligraphy and spiritual reflection; Nupur Jha (India/UAE), capturing emotion through expressive colour movement; Asma Mehmood (Pakistan/UAE), meditative transitions of tone and light; and Sonu Sultania (India/UAE), fluid, dreamlike alcohol-ink compositions evoking emotional awakening, among others, representing international artists from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Work by Dr. Anjini Prakash Laitu.

Emirati artist Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi blends art with purpose. She believes that art is more than just a form of expression; for her, it is a powerful tool that can serve society and create real change. By transforming her artwork into a means of fundraising (her painting has been sold at a charity auction dedicated to supporting the education of children with special needs in India), she demonstrates how creativity can directly improve lives. Maryam emphasises that her artistic mission will always connect creativity with compassion, because, she says, “true art is the art that reaches people and leaves a real, lasting impact.” Born in 1967, Thaier Helal launched his artistic career in his native Syria, where he studied with seminal painters at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Damascus. After relocating to the UAE in the 1990s, he developed a distinct painting method, which incorporates materials such as glue, sand and coal, attempting to recreate the physical and sensory aspects of the world around him. Abstraction is central to his practice. Dr. Anjini Prakash Laitu, known as the Colourman of Dubai, developed a love for colours that stayed with him despite a long career in paper technology and in Dubai’s glass bottle-making industry.

His works have been exhibited across the UAE, India and Nepal, and he is a regular at World Art Dubai. Honoured with the prestigious Golden Visa from the Ministry of Culture in Dubai, Anjini also collaborates with haute couture designers. He counts legendary Indian artist MF Husain among his influences.The exhibition extends its reach globally through Art Smiley’s immersive Virtual Exhibition Platform, giving art lovers around the world access to explore, examine and be enriched by each piece online.

Artists and art supporters at the inaugural.

Art Smiley Gallery is a multicultural art platform dedicated to empowering artists and transforming spaces through creativity. With a mission to connect art, design and community, it organises curated exhibitions, corporate art programmes and digital experiences, that make art accessible to a global audience. An AI Overview says that “abstraction in art is the practice of using visual language such as shape, form, colour, and line to create compositions that do not attempt to represent visual reality accurately. This can range from simplifying or distorting an object to creating entirely non-representational works, with no source in external reality.”

Abstract art which emerged around the turn of the 20th century, it adds, “exists on a continuum from the slightly abstracted to the completely non-objective.” It developed from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism; Wassily Kandinsky is often credited with painting the first non-representational work, in 1910. Since the early 1900s, abstraction has been a central tenet of modern and contemporary art.