Adding to your social calendar for this upcoming weekend? Whether you are a major art connoisseur or looking looking to try something new, Sharjah Art Foundation is always worth a visit.

And if you haven’t visited in a while or before, it’s the perfect time to head here as an exciting roster of exhibitions will be kicking off this weekend.

From the first major survey of artist and activist Lala Rukh to an exhibition of artists from the Casablanca Art School and a March Meeting which will bring together 80 global artists, there’s plenty to look forward to.

The best part? Entry is absolutely free. Gather your fellow art enthusiasts, as here’s what to expect this spring.

Lala Rukh: In the Round

Lala Rukh’s first major international survey work reflects on three decades of the late artist and activist’s work in drawing, printmaking and video, produced against the backdrop of political turmoil and feminist movements in Pakistan.
Feb 24-Jun 16. Galleries 1, 2 and 3, Al Mureijah Art Spaces.

Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery

The largest solo presentation bytelsem artist Henok Melkamzer is now available to view at Sharjah Art Museum. With more than 100 works, many on view for the first time, Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery, offers audiences a rare look at this distinctive Ethiopian art form.
Feb 24-Jun 16. Sharjah Art Museum

Casablanca Art School: Platforms and Patterns for a Postcolonial Avant-Garde 1962–1987

Following its acclaimed showing at Tate St Ives, Casablanca Art School: Platforms and Patterns for a Postcolonial Avant-Garde 1962–1987 has landed in the UAE. It’s the first major museum exhibition of works of the School, whose revolutionary approach following Morocco’s independence in 1956 proposed a bold new visual culture.
Feb 24-Jun 16. Al Hamriyah Studios and Old Al Diwan Al Amiri, Al Hamriyah.

Drawing Time: Duets

Drawing Time: Duets sheds light on new and historical works from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection that present the range and possibilities of drawing as a practice. It’s the first instalment as part of a four-part series and will be available to view in May.
From May 4. Gallery 4, Al Mureijah Art Spaces.

In the eyes of our present, we hear Palestine

This special exhibition offers a glimpse into the history of Palestine. It features the works of Palestinian artists, as well as artists from neighbouring countries. You can explore paintings, installations, videos and sculptures spanning from the 1950s to the present. Participating artists include Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Adel Abidin, Ayreen Anastas and Rene Gabri, Simone Fattal, Tarek Al Ghoussein and many more.
Until April 14. Old Al Dhaid Clinic, Al Dhaid, Sharjah

March Meeting 2024: Tawashujat

Bringing artists, curators and art practitioners together from around the globe, March Meeting 2024: Tawashujat will be running from March 1 to March 3. This year’s theme will be tawashujat, an Arabic word which refers to the intertwining or meeting of thoughts and ideas. The programme offers talks, panel discussions, workshops, performances and readings, surrounding vital issues from the world of contemporary art.
Mar 1-Mar 3. Khalid Bin Mohammed School, Sharjah.