The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi presented Rooted Movements as a special exhibition at the inaugural NOMAD Hamptons event, which ran from June 25 to 28, 2026. The display brought together works by Emirati artists Afra Al Dhaheri, Zuhoor Al Sayegh and Azza Al Qubaisi within the grounds of The Watermill Center. According to the department the exhibition explored the strength of connections across time and place through contemporary artistic practice. The presentation formed part of wider programming that integrated design, art and architecture in a non-traditional fair format.
Canvas reported that the event marked NOMAD’s first edition in the United States and unfolded across The Watermill Center’s main venue and surrounding grounds. The gathering attracted international participants with a strong emphasis on cultural exchange particularly involving the Arab world. Abu Dhabi-based Iris Projects joined other exhibitors at the Hamptons edition which followed previous editions held in Capri, St Moritz, Monaco, Venice and Abu Dhabi itself. Organisers positioned the fair as an alternative to conventional art events by focusing on meaningful encounters in distinctive locations.
NOMAD was founded by Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte as a platform that spans contemporary and modern art alongside jewellery and architecture according to coverage in Canvas. The Hamptons edition continued this approach by selecting a site steeped in American artistic history to host the Arab-world dialogue. A Canvas article noted that the choice aligned with NOMAD’s commitment to location-specific experiences that draw on the character of each host environment. The 2026 programme thus extended the model’s global reach while maintaining its emphasis on cross-cultural programming.
The Hamptons area maintains a rich artistic legacy with studios once occupied by Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner and Willem de Kooning whose work drew influence from the local landscape and architecture Canvas reported. This background provided context for the Rooted Movements display which examined themes of heritage and identity in an Emirati context. DCT Abu Dhabi has pursued similar international placements to elevate contemporary practice from the UAE. The exhibition therefore contributed to ongoing efforts that link Emirati creators with audiences abroad.
Additional participants at NOMAD Hamptons 2026 included the Dubai and New York-based Leila Heller Gallery, Cairo-based Le LAB and Istanbul-based collectable design studio GLIF according to event documentation published by Canvas. These exhibitors joined the DCT Abu Dhabi partnership in a setting that highlighted both established and emerging voices. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi framed its contribution as part of broader initiatives to share UAE cultural production on the world stage. Such collaborations have become a regular feature of the department’s annual calendar of international engagements.
