Selling Art in Dubai

2024 May

Hi dear friends,

It's early summer now, bright and fun. By the way, did you hear about the typhoon that hit Dubai? It lasted only a day, but caused significant destruction. Due to the lack of a drainage system, there was widespread flooding. Oh my... The airport turned into a lake, leaving many stranded since it's a major stopover for European airlines. Netizens abroad mocked the cloud seeding technology. And my old Honda Jazz started making weird noises and smells awful after water soaked the carpet. It was a huge shock for the residents. Luckily, I work from home.

I'm trying hard with selling art here. The only styles that sell are abstract and Alec Monopoly kind. I want to be a surrealist, but people prefer light, fun, and wealthy themes. Should i change my style? Should I dye my hair orange or wear statement outfits to perhaps standout. Experiment right? Most of the population are expats on temporary visas, living in rental flats. Permanent residency is slim to none, so people are less likely to have art collections that are difficult to transport.  Cultural influences lead them to buy wall art from dollar store places like Dragon Mart and Day to Day. The wealthy usually buy from high-end galleries for signature pieces to flaunt status.

I'm still figuring out how to navigate these challenges in this place. At the start of the year, I thought selling merch would work, but now I think art workshops might be better. People need distractions from their workaholic lives, and kids need activities on non-school days. Let me know your thoughts on how to better earn as an artist. All these ideas were inspired by observing the recent World Art Dubai. I've been watching what kind of art sells, the demographics of buyers, and how artists brand themselves.

Belated Happy Mother's Day for the gorgeous moms! I hope you find joy in your creativity. WhatsApp me if you want art classes for you and the little ones. Much love...

Xoxo,

Nellie