The tenth edition of Art Dubai had a record number of visitors from both the public and professional spheres, according to the official report released this week.
The art fair, the biggest in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia attracted 27,516 visitors throughout the week, including 5,142 during the Collectors’ Preview and 7,211 during Wednesday’s VIP Preview.
Almost 100 museums and institutions from across the world sent representatives to visit and many were accompanied by groups of curators, museum boards and patrons.
The Global Art Forum, the fair’s discussion and debate platform, had the highest attendance to date with over 2000 people sitting in one or more sessions and over 1000 students also visited.
In terms of sales, around a quarter of galleries sold out, and the vast majority reported healthy interest and acquisitions from a diverse collector base.
The figures ranged from pieces from emerging artists selling for under US$10,000 through to works well beyond the US$300,000 mark by artists such as Ai Wei Wei, Faiq Hassan, Yayoi Kusama, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Marwan, Nasreen Mohammedi, Jaume Plensa, among others.
For more, visit www.artdubai.ae
aseaman@thenational.ae