HUB
Open call · Theme: Shared Ground
The OMIC
Art Contest
Jury & mentors
- Patricia Millns
- Jalal Luqman
- Manish Mundra
- Khalil Abdulwahid
- Robin Corcos
The OMIC Art Contest
Theme: Shared Ground
Shared Ground explores the UAE as a space shaped by exchange between people, cultures, experiences, and perspectives. The competition invites artists to reflect on what we bring to the place we call home, what we receive from it, and how these exchanges shape both the individual and the shared environment.
Awards
Eligibility & Guidelines
Open to artists aged 18 and above who are residents of the UAE, of any nationality. Eligible media: painting, sculpture, and installation. Each artist may submit one original artwork that has not been previously exhibited publicly or won an award in another competition. There is no size limitation. Selected artworks must be available for exhibition at OMIC from 23 October to 3 November 2026.
Submissions should include the artwork title, medium/materials, dimensions, year of completion, a high-resolution image, an artist statement (max. 150 words), a short biography, and contact and residency information. All eligible submissions are reviewed by the jury, who shortlist works for exhibition at OMIC and consideration for the OMIC Art Contest.
Jury Members
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Patricia Millns
British artist, arts advisor, and mentor based in the Middle East for over 38 years. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; work held in the British Museum and British Council collections.
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Jalal Luqman
Emirati multidisciplinary artist and author, active since the 1980s. Introduced digital art to the UAE in 1996; work shown in New York, Tokyo, Beijing, London, and beyond.
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Manish Mundra
Indian multi-disciplinary artist, filmmaker, and founder of OMIC. Producer of award-winning films including Newton, with a practice spanning photography, painting, and poetry.
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Khalil Abdulwahid
Contemporary Emirati visual artist spanning painting, video art, and mixed media, trained under the late Hassan Sharif. Also featured in the Video + Art Talk panel.
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Robin Corcos
French gallerist and co-founder of Hestia Gallery in Dubai, bringing over 15 years of European art and design expertise to contemporary decorative arts and collectible works.