Pile It On

AIDAN IMANOVA

Opposite Abu Dhabi’s bustling carpet souk, what was once a swath of sand has been reborn as a monumental twist on tradition thanks to Christopher Joshua Benton. Collaborating closely with local merchants and artisans, the American artist (based in the United Arab Emirates capital) has created a nearly 30,000-square-foot field of hand-cut Astroturf, its pixelated composition reminiscent of Afghan war carpets and woven kilims. “My studio is only five minutes away from the market, which quickly became one of my favorite places in the city to decompress,” reflects Benton, who conducted drawing workshops, interviews, and more with locals to mine motifs from their diverse homelands. “We did everything possible to put the merchants at the center of every stage.” The vibrant results—titled Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home and…

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Architectural Digest (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025

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