Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Unveils Major Hassan Sharif Archive

Landmark archive opens to researchers and the public

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library has unveiled a comprehensive archive dedicated to the late Hassan Sharif, widely regarded as the father of contemporary art in the UAE. The archive includes over 4,000 works on paper, notebooks, correspondence, and documentation of major installations spanning five decades of the artist's practice.

The archive, developed in partnership with the Hassan Sharif Foundation, will be accessible to researchers by appointment and will feature a permanent rotating display in the library's Cultural Gallery on the fourth floor.

A major retrospective exhibition drawing from the archive is planned for late 2026, in collaboration with several international institutions.