We are delighted to announce the opening of Shezad Dawood's first mid-career retrospective Skin of Dreams at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi.

The exhibition invites you into the richly textured universe Dawood has been shaping for over two decades. Anchored in research, his works draw on diverse references from history, literature, architecture, music, science and technology, allowing him to make fantastical connections and leaps we might otherwise miss.

The exhibition's title, Skin of Dreams, is a phrase used to describe the cinema screen, conjuring the boundary between imagination and reality. Conceived in dialogue with Cultural Foundation’s unique architecture, the exhibition responds to the building’s blend of Bauhaus clarity and Islamic geometric patterns, attending to light, proportion and integrated ornaments.

Curated by Jessica Cerasi, it brings together over 40 works including painting, sculpture, monumental film installations, and interactive virtual reality experiences.

A new monograph on Dawood's work will be published by SKIRA in September 2026.