The Whitney Museum of American Art has a treat in store for the new year: Farah Al Qasimi: TAILSPIN, a brand-new exhibition by the acclaimed Emirati-American photographer and filmmaker, opens on January 30, 2027.
The exhibition takes its title from Al Qasimi’s latest video work, filmed across Michigan, West Texas, and the East Coast. Told from the playful perspective of a jinn — a spirit from Arab folklore — the film weaves together fictional storytelling, documentary-style footage, and real testimony into a vivid tapestry about identity, community, and belonging in America.
Viewers will travel through auto shops, living rooms, restaurants, and the swamplands of Michigan’s Rouge River as the film traces the intertwined histories of American industry, oil, car culture, and Arab immigration. It is a story about how identities are built and rebuilt across generations — warm, personal, and full of discovery.
The exhibition is organized by Drew Sawyer and Kelly Long, and it promises to be one of the season’s most talked-about shows. Mark your calendars: the Whitney is the place to be this winter for a fresh, joyful encounter with contemporary American art at its most inventive.
Photo: Whitney Museum of American Art
