Inloco Talks 2025

Artistic Director, Cultural Producer and co-founder of Foundry Downtown, who has over 20 years of experience in the UAE and Italy. He previously co-founded and directed Maraya Art Centre and 1971 Design Space, where he developed pioneering public art and residency programs, including street and urban art projects. His work bridges cultural production, institutional engagement, and community initiatives, supporting emerging artists and fostering international collaborations. Giuseppe has also advised organizations such as UAE Unlimited and the Barjeel Art Foundation, and in recent years, has explored the intersection of digital art and blockchain technology. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Art from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma.

Co-founder of Bayt AlMamzar (est. 2021) — an independent arts and culture hub in Dubai housed in his family’s former home — writer, Gulf studies specialist, and cultural entrepreneur. His work explores the socio-political dynamics of the Gulf and their intersections with contemporary art and cultural practices. He is also the co-founder of Engage101, a collecting and research platform supporting emerging artists in the region.

Director of 421 Arts Campus, Faisal leads the institution’s programming and operations, shaping its vision as a dynamic platform for emerging creative practices. Prior to this role, he served as Public Programs Manager at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and previously at the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, contributing to major cultural initiatives including Manarat Al Saadiyat, Qasr Al Hosn Festival, and Abu Dhabi Art. With more than 17 years of experience in cultural production and international relations, his career also spans roles within the Royal Court of Jordan and key global events such as the World Economic Forum, the Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates, the Royal Film Commission, and the Jordan Media Institute.

Spanish cultural entrepreneur, philanthropist, and gallerist known for his politically engaged approach to contemporary art. He is the founder and executive director of the Focus Foundation, as well as the founder and executive director of AWL Gallery, a private space in Girona that opened in 2024, and the co-founder of a second AWL gallery, also located in Girona, Spain.

A Kuwaiti Creative Strategist, Art Curator and a Cultural Leader with over 20 years of international experience in brand, luxury, and art management across France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, KSA, UAE, and Kuwait. Known for curating cutting-edge cultural programs, identifying emerging creative talent, and fostering inclusivity within artistic communities. Driven by a passion for innovation, Ahmad specializes in creative curation, experiential design, and strategic collaborations that elevate global creative platforms, particularly in the Gulf region. Currently serving as Senior Programming and Cultural Events Manager at Al Shindagha Museum, he also produces the art and culture podcast Talkative with Ahmad, sit on the selection committee of the NBF Art Competition, and serves as Director of the World Art Exclusive Collectors Club, among other roles.

Internationally acclaimed curator and cultural leader specializing in contemporary art, media, and technology. Currently the Director of the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar, he has curated major international exhibitions including national pavilions at the Venice Biennale and co-curated the 2024 Noor Riyadh Festival, the world’s largest light art festival. With over a decade leading UK’s Mostyn Contemporary Art Museum, Alfredo is also President of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art and a prolific writer on art and media theory.

Director of the National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Biennale, where she has led the Pavilion’s participation since 2013. Her work focuses on shaping the UAE’s artistic presence internationally and fostering dialogue between local and global art communities. Previously, she served as Gallery Director at The Third Line in Dubai, representing leading contemporary artists from the region. Before relocating to the UAE, she held positions on the boards of the Canadian Arab Federation, Community Arts Ontario, and the Toronto Arts Council, supporting arts and culture within the Canadian Arab community. She holds a BFA (Hons.) from the University of Waterloo, Canada, specializing in drawing and sculpture.

Artist, researcher, and curator whose work spans photography, heritage, and landscapes. Associate Director of Creative Production at Diriyah Gate Development Authority, he is founder of Al-Mthba Studio and co-founder of Erth Team for aerial photography. Since 2013, he has documented Madina as a living museum, uncovering hidden histories, cultural landmarks, and surrounding desert landscapes.

Dunja Gottweis is the Director of Art Dubai Fair and formerly the Global Head of Gallery Relations at Art Basel, where she worked across Basel's multiple international editions. Her career spans two decades in the global art-fair ecosystem, where she has developed gallery networks, shaped fair strategies, and expanded audience engagement across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She brings a deep international perspective to her new role at Art Dubai, where she is now leading the fair into its next phase.

Sanaz Askari is an independent curator and arts consultant based between Dubai and London. She founded The Mine in 2013 as a platform supporting emerging artists and continues to lead it as a project-based initiative. With over 14 years of experience, she has collaborated with government entities, cultural institutions, and organisations such as Alserkal Avenue, producing exhibitions, public programmes, and artist-focused projects. From 2016 to 2019, she delivered over 500 urban and site-specific installations across the UAE as part of major public art initiatives. Her projects include co-producing The Sea Suspended at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (2016) and recent exhibitions at The Third Line, the UAE Embassy in Brussels, and Alserkal Avenue.

Dr. Khaled Alawadi is the first UAE national scholar to specialize in the design of sustainable cities and an Assistant Professor of Sustainable Urbanism at Khalifa University, founder of the Urban Research Studio. His research is devoted to urban design, housing, and urbanism, especially the relationships between the built environment and sustainable development. He curated the National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Biennale in 2018, which presented Lifescapes Beyond Bigness, an exhibition exploring human-scale architectural landscapes.

Co-founders of ARKAT, are Emirati urban planning experts dedicated to transforming urban spaces into dynamic, sustainable, and inclusive environments. With extensive international experience, they lead ARKAT's mission to prioritize people in urban development, focusing on context-driven, evidence-based practices. Their work encompasses urban planning advisory, master planning, community design, and collaborative research, aiming to create cities that celebrate diversity and foster community engagement.

Cultural producer with over a decade of experience in public art and therapeutic urbanism. She collaborates with the Inloco Initiative on major projects, including "The Idealized City" with Filippo Minelli and "Alleys: Regional and Local Perspectives", curated by Dr. Khaled Alawadi. Formerly Head of Development, Programming and Communications Manager at St. Petersburg Street Art Museum, she facilitated collaborations with leading international artists and researchers of urban art. Currently, as Deputy Director at Nuvo Buro Group, she contributes to the creation and implementation of comprehensive public art strategies integrating contemporary artistic practice with local cultural contexts.

Dubai-based advisor working across collection development, cultural strategy, and curatorial projects in the Gulf. She has consulted for government, institutional, and corporate clients on acquisitions, public art strategies, and creative industry planning, including cultural policy and public art initiatives in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Drawing on an academic background in history of art and museum studies, Nicole provides industry-relevant and culturally responsive consultancy across a variety of projects.