Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi has established herself as one of the most influential figures in the contemporary art world for 2025, earning international recognition for her role as a cultural ambassador and curator. Le Monde described her as an ambassador of Emirati soft power when she received France's Order of Arts and Letters in April this year. The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization recently appointed her as Ambassador Extraordinary for Arab Culture for the coming year, further cementing her growing international influence.
Her impact has extended far beyond Sharjah, where her father serves as emir. Al Qasimi took control of the Sharjah Biennial at just twenty-two years old, and now, 22 years later, she has proven her capabilities well beyond her familial sphere of influence. The curator has successfully maintained a balance between political clout and artistic credibility, consistently advocating for global-majority artists while bringing a sense of politics alongside the substantial funding she attracts to her large-scale cultural events.
This year, Al Qasimi made history as the first non-Japanese artistic director of the Aichi Triennale, working with a reported $9 million budget to install works throughout Aichi Prefecture. The exhibition featured pieces by renowned artists including John Akomfrah, Wangechi Mutu, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. Taking its title "A Time Between Ashes and Roses" from a 1970 work by Syrian poet Adonis, the triennale under Hoor's direction continued to prioritize non-Western and Indigenous artists. Critics praised the biennial's unwavering commitment to ethical clarity and lauded its focus on the tension between activism and spectacle.
Looking ahead, when her Biennale of Sydney, titled "Rememory," opens next March, Al Qasimi will guide visitors to the western part of the Australian city, an area home to many diaspora communities. The exhibition will feature works by artists including Emily Jacir, CAMP, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, and Indigenous artists such as Yaritji Young and Richard Bell. Despite her extensive international travel and responsibilities as president of the International Biennial Association, she also serves as president of the postgraduate Global Studies University in Sharjah, which recently announced the launch of its fully funded PhD program.
"I'm always interested in decentering; I want art to be part of people's daily lives," Al Qasimi stated in an interview marking this year's edition of the Sharjah Biennial. She remains the president and director of Sharjah Art Foundation and undoubtedly played a role in selecting Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento as curators for the 2027 Sharjah Biennial, ensuring her continued influence in shaping the future of contemporary art on a global scale.
