Hoor Al Qasimi has been named the most influential person in the contemporary art world in 2024, according to ArtReview’s Power 100 list.
The ArtReview Power 100 list recognises individuals who have shaped the current developments in art and made a significant global impact. Al Qasimi’s top ranking reflects her significant contributions to the art world over the last three decades as an accomplished curator and a visionary institutional leader, as well as her ongoing commitment to fostering a more inclusive and diverse artistic landscape in Sharjah and beyond.
Al Qasimi is the President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation, an organisation she founded in 2009 to serve as a catalyst and advocate for the arts globally. Since 2003, she has also been the Director of Sharjah Biennial, an internationally recognised platform for contemporary art. With a passion for supporting experimentation and innovation in the arts, Al Qasimi has continuously expanded the scope of the Foundation, which presents ground-breaking art exhibitions as well as robust programmes in film, performance, music and education. Additionally, she has played a significant role in leading the March Meeting, an annual conference convening artists, academics, curators and cultural producers from around the world.
In 2017, she was appointed as the President of the International Biennial Association and currently serves as the President of The Africa Institute and Global Studies University in Sharjah as well as the President and Director of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, which launched in 2019. The curator of the second Lahore Biennale (2020), Al Qasimi was recently appointed as the Artistic Director of the 2025 Aichi Triennale, becoming the first person to be chosen for the role from outside of Japan. She has also been appointed as Artistic Director of the 2026 Biennale of Sydney.
Al Qasimi’s leadership of the Sharjah Biennial and Sharjah Art Foundation and her work on boards, advisory councils and juries at leading international organisations has been instrumental in challenging western-centric narratives in the art world. Her initiatives have evolved into leading platforms for the world of contemporary art, promoting dialogue and collaboration between artists and cultural organisations globally.
