DUBAI – QAHWA WORLD

As part of the Coffee Art Marathon – Edition 2, Art4you Gallery hosted Coffee Art Ignite, a high-energy live postcard art competition at Kefi Books, Board Games & Specialty Coffee Shop in Dubai. The event, supported by Qahwa World, showcased the growing synergy between contemporary art and coffee culture.

YOU MAY LIKE: Coffee Art Marathon 2026: A 7-Emirate Creative Movement in the UAE

“Designed as a 90-minute creative challenge, Coffee Art Ignite invited artists and students to explore coffee as a sustainable artistic medium. Participants were tasked with creating as many original coffee-painted postcards as possible, turning speed, skill, and spontaneity into a compelling live performance,” said Jesno Jackson, Curator of Art4you Gallery.

  • A Unique Artistic Challenge

The competition required all participants to work exclusively with coffee as pigment. Within the 90-minute timeframe, artists produced multiple miniature artworks on postcard-sized formats. Winners were determined based on the number of completed original postcards and jury-selected works, evaluated by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Yousif, pioneer Emirati artist, sculptor, and Fine Arts professor at the University of Sharjah, UAE. VIP guests included Ali Al Zakary, Ajab Yusuf Bharbhaya, Tasneem Hussain Turabally, and Hussain Ibrahim.

Demonstrating exceptional creativity and speed, the winning artist produced 40 original coffee-painted postcards, earning the title Coffee Art Ignite Champion. Participants included both professional artists and emerging creatives, such as Cristina Gabiela, Noreen Nawab, Jesno Jackson, Fathimath Thasleema, Maiia Opuk, Alisa Volnova, Zara Bekmurzaeva, Vasilisa Eliseeva, and Sophie Bekmurzaeva, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the Coffee Art Marathon.

  • Why Coffee Art Ignite Was Curated

Art4you Gallery designed Coffee Art Ignite to:

  • Promote coffee as a sustainable and innovative art medium

  • Encourage experimental, time-based artistic expression

  • Offer interactive art experiences within community spaces

  • Strengthen connections between artists, cafés, and cultural audiences

  • Build momentum for the broader Coffee Art Marathon initiative

By hosting the event in a specialty coffee café, Kefi Café transformed into a live creative arena, blurring the line between exhibition space and social gathering. Vasilisa Eliseeva won 1st Prize in the Artist category, while Sophie Bekmurzaeva took 1st Prize in the Student category.

  • About Coffee Art Marathon

The Coffee Art Marathon (CAM2) is an international art initiative organized by Art4you Gallery under founder and Chief Curator Jesno Jackson. Running from February to April 2026 across the UAE, the marathon features 30 creative activations including live competitions, exhibitions, workshops, and community art engagements.

The initiative highlights coffee not just as a beverage, but as a conscious artistic medium, aligned with sustainability and contemporary art practices. By activating cafés, galleries, and cultural spaces, Coffee Art Marathon creates accessible platforms for artists while engaging audiences in unique art experiences.

  • Event Details

  • Event: Coffee Art Ignite – Live Postcard Art Competition

  • Venue: Kefi Books, Board Games & Specialty Coffee Shop, Dubai

  • Support Partner: Qahwa World

  • Organizer: Art4you Gallery

  • Part of: Coffee Art Marathon – Edition 2

For media inquiries, interviews, or future collaborations, contact Art4you Gallery.