Journey through artistic history at the Sharjah Art Museum
The museums in Sharjah offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history, culture and achievements over the years. The Sharjah Art Museum, for instance, is one of the most prominent art establishments in the region. It houses artworks by celebrated Middle Eastern artists, allowing visitors to experience history through paintings and sculptures.
Find out all about the collections, timings and more in our complete guide to Sharjah Art Museum.
ABOUT SHARJAH ART MUSEUM
This three-storey museum houses permanent collections of artworks by renowned local and regional artists across various formats. Apart from collections, the museum organises exhibitions to introduce art enthusiasts to both established as well as up-and-coming creative talent.
The museum was originally housed in Bait Al Serkal, which is now the location of Sharjah Art Foundation. It was moved to its current building in 1997, which features traditional wind tower architecture.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT SHARJAH ART MUSEUM?
There’s so much for visitors to see and enjoy at the museum. From its permanent collections to temporary exhibitions, the museum provides a delightful experience for artists and art enthusiasts alike.
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS: MUSEUM’S PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Located on the first floor, the museum’s permanent collection consists of around 500 sculptures and paintings — with a focus on modern and contemporary artworks from the second half of the 20th century onwards. The collection displays artworks from both renowned and lesser-known artists from the Arab World, including Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan and Yemen, highlighting their contribution to the global art scene.
Some of the artists whose artworks you can see at the art museum in Sharjah include Abdul Qader Al Rais, Obaid Suroor, Faiq Hassan, Sliman Mansour, Widad Al Orfali and Ismail Fattah Al-Turk.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS AT SHARJAH ART MUSEUM
Aside from its permanent collection, the museum has also hosted several temporary exhibitions in collaboration with art institutions across the globe — including TATE Britain in London and The Gibran Museum in Lebanon.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Currently, you can enjoy the works of the Lebanese artist, Aref El Rayess at the museum. Let’s learn more about the exhibition and the artist himself.
AREF EL RAYESS
Aref El Rayess was a self-taught artist who began painting at the age of 11. He practises tapestry, sculpture and painting.
His first exhibition took place in the UNESCO building in Beirut in 1948. Post that experience, he travelled between Paris, Senegal, Italy and Lebanon to learn more about the minutiae of art. He even undertook formal courses and got training under the tutelage of prominent artists in Paris.
The artist’s career took off after he was commissioned by the Lebanese government to create two sculptures to present at the New York World Fair. His work has been a part of many solo and group exhibitions and can be found at Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah and Sursock Museum, Beirut.
The current exhibition includes a range of sculptures, drawings, paintings and collages that reveal the political struggles of his time such as the Lebanese civil war and Algerian War of Independence.
- Dates: Until 7th August 2022
- Timings: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Tickets: Free
LIBRARY
Once you’ve finished touring the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, you can pay a visit to the museum’s library. It has over 4,000 titles in various languages as well as audio and visual materials.
CAFE
Sharjah Museum also has a cafe where you can grab light bites while pondering over the exhibitions or books that you’ve recently explored!
GIFT SHOP
Feel like buying a memento of your visit? Pop into the gift shop to purchase some souvenirs to show your your family and friends.
Other facilities at the museum include parking for visitors, free Wi-Fi and wheelchair access.
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM ENTRY FEE
Another reason to visit this popular museum in Sharjah is that entry is completely free!
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM TOURS
Did you know that the museum also offers guided tours for the public? If you’d like to get a deeper insight into the museum’s stunning artworks and architecture, you can book a guided tour of the museum. Best of all, these tours are provided free of cost to visitors and are available in Arabic as well as English.
If you’re interested in a guided tour, simply contact the museum using the contact number provided below, letting them know your preferred date and time for the tour.
Want to explore the museum from the comfort of your home? You can also enjoy a free virtual tour through the official website.
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM TIMINGS
Wondering when can you visit the museum? The opening hours are from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm. The timings for the museum’s cafe, gift shop and library are the same as well.
However, bear in mind that this Sharjah museum is typically closed on public holidays such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.
Please make sure to confirm the museum’s timings, particularly for Friday, before a visit.
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM LOCATION
The museum is located in Al Shuwaihean and is part of the Heart of Sharjah. Visitors can find the museum in the Arts District, opposite the Emirates Fine Arts Society.
Since the museum is located in the heritage district of Sharjah, visitors can explore many landmarks in and around the area — including the Sharjah Art Institute, Souk Al Bahar and Sharjah Corniche.
SHARJAH ART MUSEUM CONTACT
Want to know more about the museum’s collections, upcoming exhibitions and tours? You can call the museum at +971-6-568-8222 or email them at info@sma.gov.ae.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sharjah Art Museum?
Sharjah Art Museum is located in Al Shuwaihean.
When is the Sharjah Art Museum open?
The museum is open throughout the week from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm. Make sure to confirm the timings of Friday.
Do you need to book in advance to visit the museum?
No, prior booking isn’t required if you’re touring the museum on your own. However, if you’d like to book a guided tour, you will need to inform the management of the museum beforehand.
What are some of the other popular museums in Sharjah?
Sharjah is known for its fascinating museums! You can visit any of these museums in Sharjah to learn about the UAE’s rich past.
The most popular of them is the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, also known as the Museum of Islamic Art in Sharjah or the Sharjah Islamic Museum. Kids will also enjoy a visit to the Sharjah Science Museum, which conducts interactive workshops and exhibits.
That brings an end to our guide on Sharjah Art Museum. We hope you plan a visit with your loved ones to the museum soon and share your insights with us too!
If museums aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do in Sharjah, from visiting iconic mosques to dune bashing.
Sharjah is also well-known for the Mleiha Archeological Centre, where you can get up close to ancient relics and burial sites.
So what are you planning to do? We’d love to hear from you. Our comments section is open for you!
