Mara firetti

Salmah Almansoori The Weight of Absence The survival systems that shaped Ghayathi transformed a small desert settlement into an enduring presence. For my people, survival was never optional, it was our way of life, sustained by ingenuity and labor. My work reflects that labor and its preservation. I work with paper while pushing its boundaries into sculptural language, exploring the limits of surface-making as material and metaphor. My aim is not to verify the past but to hold space for it, reconnecting with our origins and honoring the resilience that carried us forward The work invites us to imagine futures rooted in memory, material, and survival Dual-site Installation The installation extends into Al Ain, where sculptures are embedded within the oasis landscape. Here, memory shifts from personal to shared inviting viewers to engage with fragments as though excavated from living archaeology. Influenced by their surroundings, the works continue to change over time. Visitors are encouraged to journey beyond Manarat Al Saadiyat, experiencing both sites as interco nected spaces shaped by memory, resilience, and future possibility. Acknowledgements Abu Dhabi Art team, Afra Al Mutairi, Celine Azem, Dyala Nusseibah, Fakhera Obaid Almansoori, Firetti Contemporary, Hadef Obaid Almansoori, Ida Sophia, Issam Kourbaj, Lukas Lehmann, Mara Firetti, Maria Fatima Buensalido, Mariam Al Darmaki May Yu Maw, Musallam Obaid Almansoori, Naam Creations, Pat Lemos Stack & Staging Fine Arts, Studio Untitled, The Ministry of Culture.

A throwback to the opening of “We Walk on Stories” by @khozema.alaaed an exhibition that continues to hold a very special place within our space. Originally inaugurated in February, the exhibition unfolded during a particularly challenging period for the city and the arts community. In light of this, we felt it was important to extend the exhibition’s duration in order to give the artist and the works the visibility and time they truly deserve. We remain deeply honored to present these remarkable works and grateful to all those who have visited and engaged with the exhibition. For those who have not yet had the chance to experience the exhibition, we would be delighted to welcome you before the exhibition closes on 27 May. #soloexhibition #uaeartscene #sculpture #contemporaryart

We are delighted to present Of the Palm by Salmah Almansoori at the Ministry of Culture Majlis during Make it in the Emirates. Through laser engraving on handmade palm paper, the series reflects on memory, transformation, and the interconnected narratives of landscape, labour, and identity. Layered textures and archival references come together to evoke both personal and collective histories embedded within the material itself. With special thanks to Walter Williams for his valued support and collaboration in bringing this presentation to life. @firetti.contemporary @firetti.advisory @visualsalmah

HIKMAT NAEEM Untitled , 2024 Oil and mixed media on canvas 150 cm x 150 cm Hikmat Naeem (b. 1965, Syria) is a distinguished visual artist and educator with over 35 years of experience in painting, drawing, and Arabic calligraphy. He earned both his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Damascus, Syria, where he developed his signature approach to abstraction and expressionism. His work blends gestural abstraction with elements of Arabic calligraphy. His compositions are defined by bold lines, vivid contrasts, and layered textures, reflecting the emotional and historical weight of his subject matter. Often integrating unconventional materials such as old wood and collage, he creates depth and texture that echo the layers of history, personal experience, and the passage of time. @firetti.contemporary @firetti.advisory @hikmatnaeem2.art

Witnessing the Fragments, 2026
Watercolor and spices on handmade cotton paper In this body of work, Salmah Al Mansoori approaches painting as a space of quiet reconstruction where memory, movement, and material converge. Working with watercolor and spices such as turmeric, zaatar, and chili, she builds layered surfaces that hold traces of the places she has passed through, not as fixed representations, but as shifting, sensory impressions. These works exist in between; between locations, between states of being, between what is seen and what is felt. Through accumulation and mark making, fragments of landscapes, objects, and lived experiences begin to surface and dissolve, forming compositions that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. Rather than documenting place, Al Mansoori reconstructs it through memory fluid, partial, and continuously unfolding. Each work becomes a site where material itself carries meaning, where texture becomes language, and where the act of painting transforms into a process of recognition. #SalmahAlMansoori #FirettiContemporary #ContemporaryArt #ArtDubai #EmergingArtist UAEArt MixedMedia ArtCollector GalleryLife ArtOfTheDay

Presented during Alserkal Art Month, a collaboration between Firetti Contemporary and Jaipur Rugs unfolds as an exchange of artistic expressions, where material, form, and memory intersect across disciplines. As part of this dialogue, Firetti Contemporary will host two hand-knotted artistic carpets, crafted from wool and bamboo silk, where intricate surfaces evoke a sense of time, trace, and layered histories. Through their textures and patterns, the works suggest fragments of forgotten narratives echoing the passage of time and the quiet persistence of cultural memory. In parallel, a series of watercolor paintings on handmade paper by Salmah Almansoori, together with her sculptural work Chairs of Continuity, will be presented at Jaipur Rugs at Alserkal Avenue. @jaipurrugs @firetti.contemporary @firetti.advisory @alserkalavenue @visualsalmah #alserkalartmonth #collaborarion #watercoloronpaper #sculpture #handmaderugs

Welcomed the students of Istituto Marangoni Dubai to the gallery today for a walkthrough of Khozema’s exhibition. A room full of curious, creative minds all coming from a fashion background brought a fresh perspective to the works. Their questions, observations, and engagement made the experience even more meaningful. It’s always inspiring to see how different disciplines connect through art, and how new generations interpret and challenge what they see. Thank you for the energy and thoughtful dialogue ✨ @firetti.contemporary @khozema.alaaed @istitutomarangonidubai #soloexhibition #contemporanyart #artlife #sculpture #dubaiartists

It was a pleasure hosting the wonderful @artopia.dxb group at Firetti Contemporary. A culturally engaged and passionate community, brought together through art and dialogue under the guidance of art patron Lina Mikati. Founded by @linaasfarimikati , Artopia is a free and inclusive cultural club connecting friends through art, music, conversation, and philanthropy. #artcommunity #artlovers #galleryvisit #contemporanyart @firetti.advisory @firetti.contemporary @khozema.alaaed

A beautiful opening this past Sunday at Maraya Art Centre. Firetti Contemporary is proud to present Who I Become, a solo exhibition by Salmah Almansoori, curated by Cima Azzam. Bringing together painting, sculpture, and installation, the exhibition unfolds through acts of noticing where fragments of everyday life are transformed into vessels of memory, both personal and collective. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special moment. With sincere thanks to Cima Azzam, Dr. Nina Heydemann, and the team at Shurooq, and with appreciation to H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer for their continued support. On view until 30 July 2026. @marayaartcentre @firetti.contemporary @firetti.advisory @visualsalmah #soloexhibition #contemporanyart #worksonpaper #uaeartscene

Firetti Contemporary is pleased to take part in Déjà Vu, a multi-gallery exhibition at Concrete, Alserkal Avenue. On view from 25 April to 8 May 2026, the exhibition brings together over 50 artists from 20 leading UAE galleries. Firetti presents works by Ahmad Tallaa and Mai Al Remeithi, exploring form, perception, and the subtle tensions of contemporary life. Inspired by Raed Yassin’s Déjà vu (2016), the exhibition reflects on repetition, memory, and the instability of meaning. Curated by Kevin Jones, Nada Raza, and Zaina Zaarour.

“Deeper Than You Know” A performative installation by @khozema.alaaed extending his ongoing Maps & Cities series. Through a layered mirror structure, the work explores identity as something in constant formation shaped by memory, experience, and transformation. Echoing the legacy of the mirror as a conceptual device in contemporary art, most notably in the work of Michelangelo Pistoletto, this piece moves beyond reflection into a space of questioning. Here, the mirror does not confirm what is visible; it destabilizes it, inviting the viewer into a deeper, layered encounter with the self. “You are deeper than you think. What happens when the mirror is no longer a surface of reflection, but a site of questioning? In this work, the mirror does not confirm what is visible; it destabilizes it. Breaking becomes a transition rather than destruction, shifting the viewer from observer to participant in a process of revealing hidden layers. The work begins where the surface gives way.” Khozema Alaaed Filmed and edited by @kaisdahoul @artopia.dxb @mara_firetti #FirettiContemporary #KhozemaAlaaed #PerformanceArt #ContemporaryArt

Maraya Art Centre invites you to the opening of “Who I Become” by Emirati artist Salmah Al Mansoori, curated by Cima Azzam. Opening next Sunday, 26 April 2026, at 11:00 am Second Floor, Maraya Art Centre يدعوكم مركز مرايا للفنون لحضور افتتاح معرض “من أكون” للفنانة الإماراتية سلمى المنصوري، بإشراف القيّمة سيما عزام. الافتتاح الأحد القادم، 26 أبريل 2026، الساعة 11:00 صباحاً الطابق الثاني، مركز مرايا للفنون