Biography
Hussain Sharif stands as one of the preeminent conceptual artists of the United Arab Emirates, whose contributions have significantly shaped the artistic landscape of his homeland. Alongside his brother, Hassan Sharif, and fellow artists Mohammed Kazem, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, and Abdullah Al Saadi, he co-founded the Emirates Fine Art Society in Sharjah. Sharif’s diverse oeuvre—encompassing painting, drawing, collage, and installation—is marked by its conceptual depth and experimental spirit.
At the heart of his practice is the exploration of Emirati identity. Sharif often employs materials scavenged from urban environments to comment on the socio-political and economic transformations his region has undergone since the mid-1970s. As he aptly puts it, “I believe that artists should not merely search for old materials used many years before… The streets of our cities are replete with materials, and the sanctity of any individual material is lost. I like to recycle my art.” Born in Dubai in 1961, Sharif earned a degree in Theatre Design from the High Institute of Kuwait and subsequently served as head designer at Sharjah TV. His work has been exhibited extensively across the UAE, Egypt, Russia, Holland, France, and Germany.
Artwork
