Myrna Ayad

Myrna Ayad (Arabic: ميرنا عياد) is a Dubai-based cultural strategist, art advisor and independent arts writer with a focus on visual art and culture from the Middle East. She was Director of Art Dubai from 2016 to 2018[1] and prior to that, editor of Canvas magazine. In 2018, Ayad established her own consultancy focused on cultural strategy.[2]

Myrna Ayad
OccupationArt Advisor and Independent Arts Writer.
Notable work
Sheikh Zayed: An Eternal Legacy

Dubai Wonder

Contemporary Kingdom: The Saudi Art Scene Now
HonoursIn 2017, nominated among the 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen in Forbes In 2018,50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World in Arabian Business.
Websitehttps://www.myrnaayad.com/

Career

Myrna Ayad was born in Beirut and moved to The United Arab Emirates in 1982. In 2007–2015, Ayad was editor of Canvas, a magazine focused on visual art from the Middle East, there, she also ran the production of Canvas Daily newspapers, which published about Art Dubai[3] and Abu Dhabi Art fair. In addition to writing supplements, and luxury art books for clients such as Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels and Christie's.[4]

In 2015, Ayad wrote prolifically for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, CNN Online and The National.[5] She has reviewed the work and exhibitions of artists including Mona Hatoum, Abdulrahman Katanani, Elias Zayat, among others, and covered the regional art scene including features and events such as the Marrakech Biennial, Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, and TMoCA for which she interviewed former Iranian empress Farah Diba Pahlavi.[6]

In April 2016, Ayad was appointed director of Art Dubai,[7] the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia’s (MENASA’s) foremost international art fair. She launched the Art Dubai Modern Symposium, featuring talks and presentations about the lives, works, and cultural impact of 20th century masters from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.[8][9]

In 2018, Ayad established her own art consultancy,[2] specializing in art advisory, cultural strategy, and publishing. Among the projects she worked on is The Art of Dialogue: A Symposium,[8] which presented a series of cultural debates engaging intellectuals, artists and participants such as Noura Al Kaabi, the UAE Minister of Culture and Youth. Ayad is also a part of the Misk Art Grant committee 2021.[10]

Publications
  • Sheikh Zayed: An Eternal Legacy, Assouline, 2021.[11]
  • Dubai Wonder, Assouline, 2021.[12]
  • Contemporary Kingdom: The Saudi Art Scene Now, Canvas Central, 2014.[13]

Awards and Honors
  • In 2017, she was nominated among the 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen in Forbes.[14]
  • In 2018, she ranked among the 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World in Arabian Business.[15]

Resources
  1. Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena (2016-04-25). "Myrna Ayad Appointed Director of Art Dubai". Artnet News. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  2. "Myrna Ayad".
  3. Ayad, Myrna (2016-03-24). "At Art Dubai, Political Undertones". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  4. "Publicatios". Myrnaayad.com. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  5. "The National, Remembering The Artist".
  6. "Farah Diba Pahlavi: an exile from a collection". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  7. "Myrna Ayad Announced as the New Director of Art Dubai". Widewalls. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  8. "Myrna Ayad steps down as Art Dubai director, while fair plans to move Modern section in 2019". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  9. "Art Dubai 2018 reaffirms role as top venue for dialogue and partnerships | N.P. Krishna Kumar". AW. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  10. Khaleejesque. "Misk Art Grant: In Conversation with Myrna Ayad". khaleejesque.me. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  11. "Sheikh Zayed: An Eternal Legacy". ASSOULINE. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  12. "Dubai Wonder". ASSOULINE. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  13. "art-agenda". www.art-agenda.com. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  14. East, Forbes Middle. "A Conversation With Art Dubai Fair Director Myrna Ayad". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  15. "Myrna Ayad".
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