Iranian-born, Dubai-based sculptor Armin Najib was one of the standout artists featured at Aisha Alabbar Gallerys booth at Art Dubai 2026, where his metallic, magnet-driven sculptures appeared alongside the work of four Emirati artists. The fair ran from May 14 to 17, 2026.
The presentation, titled Soft Lines, Strong Currents, paired Najib with Layla Juma, Sara Al Haddad, Alia Hussain Lootah, and pioneering Emirati modernist Najat Makki. According to The Sandy Times Art Dubai 2026 guide, the booth was conceived as a dialogue between Emirati voices and a regional artist whose practice resonates with their material concerns.
Najibs contributions to the show combine metal, magnets, and unusual material constructions into futuristic-looking sculptural pieces, as detailed on his artist page at Aisha Alabbar Gallery. The artist, born in Tehran in 1989 and now based in Dubai, has built a body of work that sits between sculpture and wearable art, with engineering and magnetism shaping the formal language of each piece.
Around the same period, Najib also presented a separate solo exhibition titled RE-FLEKT at Double J Collective Gallery in Dubai. According to coverage from MILLE, RE-FLEKT blurred the lines between sculpture, wearable art, and psychological portraiture, with the artist describing the pieces as small objects that carry large subjects.
Founded in 2018 in the Al Quoz district, Aisha Alabbar Gallery is among the first Emirati-led galleries focused on contemporary and modern art from the UAE and the wider region. Its decision to anchor its Art Dubai 2026 booth with Najib reflects a growing willingness among Gulf institutions to position Iranian artists inside the regional contemporary scene rather than treating them as outside contributors.
Visitors interested in Najibs ongoing practice can follow his work through Aisha Alabbar Gallery, which represents him for new editions and exhibitions across the UAE.
