Ala Younis is a prominent artist known for her diverse practice that includes curating, research, and publishing. Her latest exhibition, “Past of a Temporal Universe,” is her first institutional survey in West Asia. Through her various bodies of work, Younis challenges viewers to uncover new understandings by exploring the hidden history behind the world stage.
Drawing from her background in architecture and visual cultures, Younis’s projects focus on the physical developments and narrative intersections of Arab geographies. She often utilizes a wide range of formal and informal archives to create installations, textiles, murals, mosaics, and drawings that reveal connections between political, social, urban, and popular imaginaries.
The exhibition features four major new commissions alongside her well-known projects such as “Plan for Greater Baghdad” (2015), “Nefertiti” (2008), and “Tin Soldiers” (2010-11). These works trace the evolution of her unique methods and perspective, from her early days in the art scene of Amman, Jordan, to her current renowned status in the art world.
Collaborating with scholars at NYU Abu Dhabi, Younis developed new work for the exhibition, including a new chapter in her “High Dam” project in partnership with NYUAD Associate Professor of History Masha Kirasirova. The exhibition also received support from NYUAD’s al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art, and the Arts and Humanities Research Forums.
Maya Allison, NYUAD’s Galleries Executive Director and University Chief Curator, praises Younis’s hybrid practice as an artist-researcher-curator, highlighting the importance of this approach in shaping future art exhibitions in global museums.
“Past of a Temporal Universe” is currently on display at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery until January 18, 2026. To learn more about the exhibition, visit nyuad-artgallery.org.
The exhibition showcases a range of works, including “Breathing Carpet” (2025), “Plan for Greater Baghdad” (2015), and “Corniche Tunnel Art: Industrial City” (2025). Each piece offers a unique perspective on history and culture, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the past and present.
