Ben Edmunds, Optimism with a broken heart, 2025, Mixed Media, 185 × 120 × 19 cm

Shankay is an arts organization collaborating with artists who drive impactful conversations within the global contemporary art landscape. Founded in 2024 by Maria GarGo and Daniel Silva, Shankay is inspired by how local narratives can resonate between different contexts, fostering meaningful exchanges and creating intercultural networks to engage with today’s most pressing issues. Shankay’s program embraces a global perspective, with a non-profit residency in Portugal serving as a gateway to Europe for international artists and a UAE-based global gallery. Shankay is dedicated to amplifying artists’ cultural narratives and building professional recognition while expanding the commercial reach of their work. Together, we cultivate collaboration, ignite awareness, and connect with unconventional audiences to encourage meaningful conversations. We believe fostering an impact in contemporary art emerges from a critical and strategic dialogue between the market, society, and institutions. Our initiatives aim to expand the artists’ influx in the art ecosystem through projects that transcend the traditional boundaries of 20th-century arts organizations.