After years of navigating the digital realm and maintaining a presence between London and New York, Taymour Grahne Projects now step into a new chapter with the opening of a physical gallery in Dubai. The project space carries forward the fluidity and experimental spirit of its online predecessor, now grounded in a space that invites encounter and reflection. The inaugural exhibition, Arranging Flowers by Gail Spaien, gestures toward themes of home and belonging, setting a tone for what lies ahead, a programme that embraces new voices and unfolds amid the complex cultural landscape of the city. In this conversation, Taymour Grahne reflects on the motivations behind this move, the evolving nature of curatorial practice, and the vision guiding the project’s place within Dubai’s ever-shifting artistic fabric.
After years of operating online and maintaining offices in London, what prompted the
decision to establish a physical gallery space now, and why was Dubai chosen as its
location?
For me, it felt like the right time to put down roots in the region. After many years of working between New York and London, I already had strong connections to Dubai and the wider region, both personally and professionally. Today, Dubai is an incredible meeting point of cultures, with world-class infrastructure and an openness to new ideas. Alserkal Avenue in particular is the beating heart of the contemporary art ecosystem here, and opening a project space in that environment feels like a natural continuation of my journey.
How does curating exhibitions within a gallery context differ from your previous online format? Do you anticipate that your curatorial approach will shift with this transition?
The online programme was always about flexibility and experimentation, and that spirit carries over to the physical space. The difference now is presence: being in Dubai allows me to spend more time with audiences, collectors, and artists in person. The project space will keep the same curatorial ethos – introducing new voices, creating meaningful encounters, and keeping things agile – but now with the added dimension of a direct dialogue in the space itself.
Why did you choose to inaugurate the gallery with Arranging Flowers, a solo exhibition by artist Gail Spaien?
I’ve worked with Gail for many years, and it felt important to start here with an artist who had never show in the region before. That reflects the ethos of Taymour Grahne Projects, which is to introduce new voices and create opportunities for discovery. Gail’s paintings explore ideas of home, belonging, and the quiet rituals of daily life – themes that are universal and relatable. Her works feel familiar, yet they also ask you to look again and think differently, and that is exactly the kind of experience I want to open with.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Taymour Grahne Projects in Dubai, both in terms of programming and its role within the city’s cultural landscape?
The vision is to keep the programme dynamic and global, bringing artists who haven’t shown in the region before and placing them in dialogue with local audiences. After Gail’s show, we will be presenting works by Matthew F. Fisher and Amy Lincoln. Some collaborations will be one-off projects, others will develop into long-term relationships. That flexibility is central to what we do. Beyond the programme, I hope the space can contribute to Dubai’s role as a crossroads for contemporary art, a place where conversations between different cultures and perspectives feel natural, and where audiences can always expect to encounter something new.
About Taymour Grahne Projects
Taymour Grahne Projects is a London and Dubai-based project space and art advisory founded in 2013 by art dealer Taymour Grahne. Having operated spaces in New York and London alongside nomadic programming, it will open a permanent gallery in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue in September 2025. The project presents curated exhibitions, an online programme, and participates in international art fairs. It has worked with notable contemporary artists such as Francesca Mollett, Gail Spaien, and Zineb Sedira. Taymour Grahne Projects supports cross-cultural dialogue and has placed works in major global institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The British Museum.