Visual Artist, Cultural Researcher

Creative Director, Design Entrepreneur

The Ever-changing landscape of the UAE serves as the primary subject for the works of Emirati Visual Artist, Cultural Researcher, Creative Director and Design Entrepreneur Reem Al Ghaith. The history, traditions and constantly developing backdrop of her homeland have become a major source of inspiration in her creation of artworks, designs, and cultural research.

BIOGRAPHY

Reem Al Ghaith was born in 1985 in Dubai, UAE where she currently lives and works. She is a polymath who worked in the fields of Visual Art, Cultural Research, Creative Direction and Design Entrepreneurship. Al Ghaith graduated with honors (cum laude) in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication from the College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah, and she was awarded the Government of Sharjah Award of Academic Excellence and Achievements for ranking Valedictorian in her major. She started her art journey in 2008 and in the same year, she became a veteran in national and international exhibitions. Her repertoire of exhibitions to date includes national and international features such as Art Basel, The Vitra Design Museum Weil Am Rhein, The Brisbane Biennial, Abu Dhabi Art, Art Dubai, The Haus Der Kunst Munich, Center Pompidou Paris, the Museum of Design Zurich, the Shanghai Expo, The Mori Art Museum Tokyo, The United Nations Head Quarters in New York, The New York University, New York, Kunstquartier Bethanien Berlin, ME Collectors Room Berlin, UAE Mission United Nations Head Quarters, New York and The Middle East Institute, Harvard Kenndy School, Boston. Her artworks were also exhibited as one of the youngest artists at The 55th Venice Biennial when she represented the UAE in Venice in 2011.

She became one of the most captivating young visual artists to interpret the massive changes taking place across the UAE, especially in her home city of Dubai, with her portfolio of photography and installation artworks. Exploring the possibilities of mixed media to the full, her work spans photography, print, and installations, in which she studies and documents the development of the region, how planning is overtaken by construction, and what was before and what will be. Just like her subjects, she constantly adds to and modifies her work through the unique window of documentation.

Al Ghaith’s artworks were featured in several national and international websites and publications such as ARTnews Magazine, Next Level Magazine, The Monocle Magazine, The Art Newspaper, Beaux Arts Magazine, Design Boom, Contemporary Practices Art Journal, Le Monde Newspaper, The National Newspaper, Globes Newspaper, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, and Asharq Al Awsat Newspaper. Her artworks were also published in books such as “Emirati Artists: Expressions of an Innovation Society”, “Portrait of a Nation”. “Future of Tradition- Tradition of Future”, “Dreamlands” and “Art Scene UAE”. She was also featured in a film documentary about the UAE in 2010 called “Building the Emirates” which was showcased at the U.A.E Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.

Al Ghaith was also invited to speak, contribute, and participate as a panelist in several events and focus groups that related to Art, Design, and Entrepreneurship both nationally and internationally. She was also selected as part of the seven artists nominated to represent the emirate of Dubai making the team of 49 UAE Artists and Designers that helped create the UAE nation brand in 2019.

Her Visual Art and Design experience since 2008 encouraged her with her Emirati design creative partners Kholoud Sharafi and Abeer Tahlak to continue their creative journey and represent the UAE’s visual culture by setting up a creative design company called Tinkah in 2012. A Multi-disciplinary design firm that specialized in Design, Cultural Research, Art, and Product Development in Dubai and London until 2023

Al Ghaith managed The Administration Unit and the Research and Content Development Unit in Tinkah since 2012 and was in charge of managing and setting up the company in Dubai and London. She was also a Creative Director in the Design Communication unit and led multiple design projects. Reem Al Ghaith also contributed to leading client works in research and content development with clients such as the Etihad Museum, Al Shindagha Museum, Al Maktoum Hospital Museum among others. She also creatively took the lead in the cultural content and creative direction of the 42nd National Day Dubai official celebration show that was organized by The Executive Council of Dubai in 2013.

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Her company, Tinkah between the years 2012 and its closure in 2023 directed and produced multiple creative projects and designed experiences in the UAE and internationally for both the government and private clients such as the UAE National Day 42,49,50,51 brand, UAE Pavilion Brand at Expo 2020 in Dubai, The pictograms and way finding system at Expo 2020 in Dubai, the Women’s Pavilion brand at Expo 2020 in Dubai, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority’s Etihad Museum brand. Tinkah also delivered projects for many prestigious entities such as The Ministry of Presidential Affairs, The Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, The Executive Council Dubai, Emaar, DP World, and Ch2m Halcrow. Tinkah was also invited to creatively partner with international agencies on several projects that required Creative Cultural input relevant to the region with partners such as the Space Design Agency, Empty, JBM, SYPartners, Auditoire, Imagination, and Lord Cultural Resources among others. Tinkah also designed and produced their own design products such as the Ramel Cup, Constructed Feast, and Tincase, and showcased them in multiple international publications, design exhibitions, and biennials such as Milan Design Week, Dubai Design Week, and Beijing Design Week. Tinkah was also selected by the committee of the London Design Biennial to represent the UAE in 2018.

With her passion for Culinary arts, Al Ghaith joined Le Cordon Bleu in London and graduated with a Diploma of Education in Gastronomy, Nutrition and Food Trends in 2022. While at Le Cordon Bleu with her background in Cultural Research and Design, she developed for her final project an Emirati healthy product inspired by the Ghaf tree’s nutritional benefits and value which beautifully related to her heritage and background.

Holding 15 years of experience in the fields of Art, Cultural Research, Creative Direction and Design Entrepreneurship, Reem Al Ghaith represented the Emirati cultural values and heritage through all of her artistic creative works specializing in Visual Arts, Design, and Cultural Research to the world and has left a creative imprint throughout with the spirit of the UAE.

“Part of the way I look at art is through the window of documentation, archiving and creating form.”

Exploring the possibilities of mixed media to the full, her artworks span photography, print, and installations, in which in some she studied and documents the development of the region, how planning is overtaken by construction, what was before and what will be. Just like her subjects, she constantly adds to and modifies her work through the unique window of documentation.

VISUAL ART EXPEREINCE

2005 Artist in, “Memefest.org competition”, Ljubljana, Slovenia

2006 Artist in, “5th Lessedra World Annual Print”, Sofia Bulgaria

2007 Artist in, “VIS 420 Senior Design Exhibition, College of Art & Design”, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “CCAD Best Student Projects Exhibition, College of Art & Design”, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “CCAD Open Day Exhibition, College of Art & Design”, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “2008 CCAD Graduate show Exhibition, College of Art & Design”, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “Dubai Next: Vitra Design Museum”, Weil Am Rhein, Germany

2008 Artist in, “Vibrations Within, Tashkeel”, Dubai, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “Suhoor Preview, an Emarati Exhibition”, House 69, Al Fahidi, Dubai, U.A.E

2008 Artist in, “Private Preview by Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak: Emarati Art, 2nd Arab Women Conference”, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2009 Artist in, “Emarati Expressions, Curated by Anne Baldassari”, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2009 Artist in, “Re-source, an Emirati Exhibition, Elementa Gallery”, Dubai, U.A.E

2009 Artist in, “Provisions of the Future” Sharjah Biennial 9th”, Sharjah, U.A.E

2009 Designer in, "Design Moment, Abu Dhabi Art Fair”, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2009 Artist in, “Dubai Underground, Like Spice Gallery”, New York, U.S.A

2009 Artist in, “Across the Gulf, Brisbane Biennial”, Brisbane, Australia

2010 Artist in, ”The Reflective Mirror, United Nations”, UN Headquarters, New York, U.S.A

2010 Artist in, ”Dreamlands, Curated by Didier Ottinger & Quentin Bajac, Center Pompidou”, Paris, France

2010 Artist in, ”Future of Tradition - Tradition of Future, 100 Years After the Exhibition Masterpieces of Muhammadan Art, Haus der Kunst”, Munich, Germany

2010 Artist in, "Better City, Better Life: The Power of Dreams, UAE Pavilion, Shanghai Expo”, Shanghai, China

2011 Artist in, "Second Time Around, Curated by Vasif Kortun, UAE Pavilion, Venice Biennial 54th” Venice, Italy

2011 Artist in, "Highrise – Idea and Reality Museum of Design Zurich”, Zurich, Switzerland

2012 Artist in, "Half & Half, Curated by Vasif Kortun, Abu Dhabi Art”, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2012 Artist in, "Tashkeel Gallery Showcase in Art Dubai”, Dubai, U.A.E

2012 Artist in, "The Contemporary Art from the Arab World, The Mori Art Museum”, Tokyo, Japan

2012 Artist in, "A Solo Exhibition of Held Back: a photography series by Reem Al Ghaith, New York University Campus”, New York, U.S.A

2016 Artist in, "Portrait of a Nation at Abu Dhabi Festival”, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2016 Artist in, "Art Nomads : Made in the Emirates, Kunstquartier Bethanien”, Berlin, Germany

2017 Artist in, "Portrait of a Nation, ME Collectors Room, Berlin” Berlin, Germany

2021 Artist in, "A Solo Exhibition of Held Back: a photography series by Reem Al Ghaith, UAE Mission, United Nations Headquarters”, New York, U.S.A

2022 Artist in, “A Solo Exhibition of Darawezna Partition by Reem Al Ghaith”, The Middle East Institute, Harvard Kenndy School, Boston, U.S.A

professional Experience

education and awards

Reem Al Ghaith represents the Emirati cultural values and heritage through her artistic works specializing in visual arts, cultural research, and design to the world and has left a creative imprint throughout her practice with the spirit of the UAE.

FEATURES AND PARTICIPATIONS

2005 Featured in, “Black & White photography series, Al Feel Magazine Issue number 34”, Dubai U.A.E

2008 Featured in “Building the Emirates, A Film documentary for the U.A.E Pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010”, Trident Media CTL Films, Directed by Gerry Nelson

2008 Featured in "Is Dubai the city of the future or is it a flamboyant futuristic fantasy of globalization fashion” Globes Newspaper, Tel Aviv, Israel

2008 Featured in “Canvas Magazine Jun/July issue 14”, Dubai, U.A.E

2008 Featured in “Brownbook Magazine Jun/July issue 10”, Dubai, U.A.E

2008 Featured in “Soura Magazine Jun/July issue 20”, Sharjah, U.A.E

2009 Panelist in, “The History of Photography & Contemporary Photography in the Gulf” Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai, U.A.E

2009 Featured in “Reem Al Ghaith, Khatt Foundation Website”, https://www.khtt.net/en/page/1018/reem-al-ghaith,Khatt Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2009 Featured in, “Art in the Emirates" ARTnews Magazine, February issue, New York, U.S.A

2009 Featured in, "Next Level Magazine" Photographic Art Magazine, March issue”, London, U.K

2009 Contributor in, “Art & Architecture Issue” Issue 14, Brownbook, Dubai, U.A.E

2009 Featured in, “Art & Architecture in the Middle East”, Art & Architecture Issue, March, Issue 14, Brownbook, Dubai, U.A.E

2009 Featured in, “Reem Al Ghaith, Sharjah Art Foundation”, https://sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/people/al-ghaith-reem, Sharjah, U.A.E

2009 Featured in, “Sharjah Biennial 9: Provisions Book I”, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, U.A.E

2009 Featured in, “Sharjah Biennial 9: Provisions Book II”, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, U.A.E

2009 Speaker in, "The Wings Party" Curated by Fabrice Bousteau”, Abu Dhabi Art, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2009 Panelist, "Big & Little Moderated by Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum London”, Abu Dhabi Art, Abu Dhabi, U.A,E

2009 Featured in “Design Moment at Abu Dhabi Art Fair 09, Design boom”, https://www.designboom.com/art/design-moment-at-abu-dhabi-art-fair-09/, Milan, Italy

2009 Featured in “Reem Al Ghaith: I seek to introduce the world to Emirati Heritage, Emarat Al Youm News Paper”, Dubai, U.A.E

2010 Featured in, “Designers of Design Moment Abu Dhabi Art 2009 Oasis Magazine”, 10th Issue, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2010 Featured in, “Dreamlands“ Center Pompidou Exhibition Book, Center Pompidou”, Paris, France

2010 Featured in, “Dreamlands Exhibition Center Pompidou“ Special edition, Beaux Arts Magazine” Paris, France

2010 Featured in, “Future of Tradition - Tradition of Future” Haus Der Kunst Exhibition Book, Has Der Kunst”, Munich, Germany

2010 Featured in, “Reem Al Ghaith, Barjeel Art Foundation”, https://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/artist/uae/reem-al-ghaith/, Sharjah, U.A.E

2011 Featured in, “Second Time Around - The United Arab Emirates Pavilion at the 54th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia, 2011 Essay”, Volume IX, Contemporary Practices Art Journal

2011 Featured in, “The Middle East Makes a Showing at the Venice Biennial, The National Newspaper”, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2011 Featured in, “Artist Reem Al Ghaith presents a view of development and urbanization in Dubai what’s left of her land, Asharq Al Awsat News Paper”, London, UK

2011 Panelist in, " Abu Dhabi Art Talks: U.A.E Venice Biennale Pavilion, Abu Dhabi Art”, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2011 Speaker in, “The Making of the Land by Artist Reem Al Ghaith College of Architecture, Art and Design”, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah U.A.E

2011 Panelist in, “Art & Innovation: The UAE as Art & Tourism Epicenter” Moderated by Dean Peter Di Sabatino, American University of Sharjah Business Forum & Career Fair”, Sharjah U.A.E

2012 Speaker in, "Held Back: Reem Al Ghaith a Conversation, NYU Campus”, New York, U.S.A

2012 Featured in, “Emirati Artists: Expressions of an Innovative Society, Motivate Publishing”, Dubai, U.A.E

2013 Speaker in, “A Conversation with UAE’s National Entrepreneurs Moderated by John Defterios, Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Forum 2013", Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2014 Keynote Speaker in, "Panel III, Women in the Arts & Entrepreneurship, Women in Leadership & Entrepreneurship in the UAE: A Sucess story to tell”, Dubai, U.A.E, Organized by Paris Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, The American University of Sharjah, the Emirates Foundation, Sharjah Business Women Council, and the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates

2016 Participant in, “Made in Al Quoz, Second Edition Workshop, Dubai Plan 2021 Creative Lab”, The Executive Office, Dubai, U.A.E

2016 Featured in, “Emirati Artists in Berlin: Cultural Capitals of the Future, Harpers Bazaar Arabia”, Dubai, U.A.E

2016 Featured in, “ADMAF’s Online Artist Resource Page, Reem Al Ghaith”, ADMAF https://admaf.org/artists/reem-al-ghaith/, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2016 Featured in, "Portrait of a Nation Exhibition Book”, ADMAF, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2017 Panelist in, “Membership Launch of Dubai Design And Fashion Council”, Dubai, U.A.E

2017 Featured in, “Louvre Abu Dhabi Film Project with Art Newspaper” Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

2018 Featured in, “Tashkeel Artist Page: Reem Al Ghaith”, Tashkeel, https://tashkeel.org/artists/reem-al-ghaith, Dubai, U.A.E

2019 Participant in, “The inspiring 49, UAE National Brand logo workshop, as part of the 7 Artists selected by the Dubai Executive Council to represent Dubai in this workshop”, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future Public Diplomacy Office, Dubai, U.A.E