10 Standout Moments from NOMAD Abu Dhabi
The fair's 16th edition took place at the decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport
For its 16th edition, NOMAD traveled to the decommissioned Terminal 1 at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. The fair never ceases to surprise and delight by staging each edition in an extraordinary unexpected architectural setting, and this year, which ran November 19–22, proved no different. A landmark of Gulf modernism that opened in 1982 and closed in 2023, the airport was designed by Paul Andreu, the French architect of Charles de Gaulle airport. For this ambitious location alone, the fair was jaw-dropping in every way.
The stunning architecture was present in every area of the two-level fair, including in an off-site that celebrated regional artists in the entrance of the Jumeirah Saadiyat Island resort. “This is a new chapter for the region and NOMAD,” says Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, the fair’s co-founder. “There are no stereotypes in terms of local collectors; we are in a fast-forward era, and this is a hub. With this location, our partners are reconsidering their heritage and buildings within the context of a strong market. This is a new beginning for NOMAD, a restart. NOMAD is really an experience built around a dialogue between design within an architectural context.”
1. We Gallery
Showing with NOMAD for the first time, We Gallery curated a selection of Brazilian design classics—including Oscar Niemeyer—in dialogue with more contemporary pieces, bringing the tropics to the Gulf desert in perfect harmony.
2. The A/P Room
The first gallery of its kind in Dubai, A/P Room made its debut at NOMAD while providing a platform for various materials and storytelling. AP Room presented the work of Iranian artist Roham Shamekh, a sculptural collection of seating reflecting on the human experience, and pieces by Aline Hazarian, among others.
3. Bottega Veneta
An outstanding installation from Bottega Veneta featured works by eight designers from North Africa and the Middle East. Each designer was commissioned to respond to the house’s signature, time-honored Intrecciato leather weaving technique.
4. Le LAB Cairo
Le LAB Cairo presented a stunning sculptural presentation by Khaled Zaki’s Noah’s Ark. The dining table and chairs are a poetic expression of the universal story of survival and renewal.
5. Formed, The House of Artisans Design Competition Showcase
Formed, the House of Artisans Design Competition celebrated the living heritage of Emirati handicraft through innovative contemporary design. The display presented a rich and varied mix of works amplifying a shared interest in craft, design, and tradition by artists, students, and designers from across the UAE.
6. Nilufar
Perhaps one of the world’s most well-known collectible design galleries, Nilufar took over one of the airport gates with a striking glass sculpture walkway by Christian Pellizzari and a combination of works by others, including Osanna Visconti and Giò Ponti.
7. Gallery Fumi
The London-based contemporary design gallery brought new and intriguing works by Jeremy Anderson and tapestries by Kustaa Saski that made for an eye-popping display.
8. Vagujhelyi
The interdisciplinary studio of Diego Villarreal Vagujhelyi presented an intriguingly beautiful collection of sculptural objects in bronze, inviting viewers to touch, lift, and interact with the pieces.
9. “Departures” by Etihad Airways
Cleverly set within the Departure Hall of the terminal, “Departures,” from Etihad Airways, featured large-scale projects that straddled between design and art. With creators and makers from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, the UAE, Japan, and the US, the ambitious project showcased the theme of “Departures,” to present a world within a world of creativity and vision.
10. The Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort
The one, off-site special project was set in the lobby of the Jumeirah Saadiyat Island resort and greeted guests and visitors with a beautiful installation of five works by regional artists centered on the theme of “Shifting Terrains.” The installation gave space and visibility to a generation of regional artists and designers creating with different materials, processes, and ideas.