ROW DTLA is delighted to announce the unveiling of Friday, an art gallery and design concept store curated by husband-and-wife duo Mitch and Mubarak Jafery, opening on Friday, September 13, 2024. Friday will focus on rising creative voices from across the Global South – from the Middle East to Southeast Asia to Latin America and beyond.
Breaking away from the conventional white cube galleries, Friday is a platform for sensorial storytelling designed for the forever curious. Each season’s gallery exhibition will be complemented by hand-curated objects sourced from around the globe. In addition to its art gallery and design store, Friday will feature a global residency program that will foster exchanges between East and West, along with pop-up shows spotlighting emerging local artists and fashion designers from the global diaspora.
Friday will host an opening event on Friday, September 13, unveiling a new collection by Pakistani artist Muzzumil Ruheel titled On Emptiness: To Walk Between Candle and Flame. Renowned for his meditative approach, Ruheel reimagines traditional Urdu calligraphy, pushing it beyond the confines of language into experimental forms that resonate on a deeper, more primal level. In Ruheel’s hands, the elemental shapes of language transcend communication, becoming a medium for abstract expression
Ruheel’s exhibit will be paired alongside a collection of pieces from Southeast Asia and the Middle East: experimental handmade silver jewelry from Pakistani designer Zohra Rahman, clothing from artisan Indian brand Kartik Research made without any electricity, shawls sourced from hand-loom weavers in the Swat Valley, Chuk Palu rugs from Afghanistan, oud perfume from Sharma, sustainable and indigo-dyed loungewear from Jehan in Lahore, henna from Dr.Azra in Dubai, and olive oil in artist-edition bottles from the Tunisian farm of artist ElSeed.
“At our core, Friday is about representation through art and design. It’s a bridge between worlds.” says co-founder Mubarak Jafery.
Similarly, ROW DTLA’s commitment to highlighting rising creative voices mirrors the cultural approach of Friday. By welcoming Friday into the district, ROW DTLA continues to solidify its role as a nexus for culture & creativity in the region. “ROW DTLA prides itself on elevating emerging creative talents,” said Karen Yi, Director of Marketing & Events from ROW DTLA. “Friday is the latest addition to our diverse community of tenants who share our philosophy. The gallery/design showroom helps us cultivate a well-rounded community that serves as an epicenter for innovation and creative inspiration.”
