Galerie Farah Fakhri will present a solo exhibition by acclaimed Ivorian artist Joana Choumali at Booth D9 during the Abu Dhabi Art Fair, held from 19 to 23 November 2025, at Manarat Al Saadiyat. Titled Alba’hian – meaning “the first light of the day” in the Agni language, the series captures the artist’s meditative morning walks as she awaits the sunrise.

Presented for the first time in Abu Dhabi, Choumali’s poetic photographs are printed on cotton canvas and delicately layered with embroidery and organza fabric, evoking themes of childhood, love, friendship, and spirituality. Her works, which explore the tranquility of dawn, have previously been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Zeitz MOCAA, the Royal Academy of Arts, and Harvard Art Museums.

Through Alba’hian, Choumali invites viewers to pause, reflect, and embrace the calm beauty of the world as it awakens with the day’s first light.

Image Courtesy of Galerie Farah Fakhri by Jihane Zorkot

In fact, Galerie Farah Fakhri has quickly established itself as a dynamic platform for contemporary art from the Global South. Based in Abidjan, the gallery champions cross-cultural dialogue and artist-centered practices, fostering new perspectives through exhibitions, residencies, and public programs that reflect the world’s ever-evolving creative landscape.