Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – A groundbreaking celebration of contemporary art will sweep through the capital this April as Art Week Riyadh makes its highly anticipated debut.
Running from April 6–13, the inaugural event will bring together over 45 local, regional, and international galleries, offering a dynamic week of exhibitions, talks, workshops, and studio visits.
Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture through its Visual Arts Commission, Art Week Riyadh is set to become a major platform for engaging with the country’s thriving and diverse art scene.
Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, emphasized the non-commercial nature of the event, noting its aim to foster dialogue, offer fresh perspectives, and create a space where Saudi Arabia’s artistic community can connect with international peers.
“This event is about much more than displaying contemporary art. It is about initiating conversations that will shape the future of art in the region, while showcasing the fluid intersections of tradition and innovation,” said Amin.
The centerpiece of the event is the exhibition At The Edge, hosted in Riyadh’s JAX District, a creative hub housed in a former warehouse complex.
The curated selection of works explores the intersection of local and global narratives in contemporary art, presenting a powerful dialogue between heritage and future visions.
The exhibition will feature a broad array of works from artists across Saudi Arabia and beyond, showcasing how Saudi Arabia’s visual culture is both connected to and distinct from global art movements.
“We want this exhibition to reflect the creative energy and unique identity of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary artists,” said Princess Adwaa bint Yazeed bin Abdullah Al Saud, head of Art Week Riyadh.
“It is an opportunity to present not just exceptional works, but to create a space for ideas and creative visions to intersect.”
The exhibition will include works from celebrated regional artists such as Shaikha Al Mazrou, a UAE artist whose piece Untitled (2025) will be featured alongside those of international art giants like Do Ho Suh and Michelangelo Pistoletto.
The JAX District will also host exhibitions from various prominent Saudi art collections, including the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and The Saudi Research and Media Group’s corporate collection.
These exhibitions will explore themes such as materiality, memory, and the evolution of Saudi abstraction.
Beyond the visual exhibitions, Art Week Riyadh will feature a robust program of talks, workshops, and panel discussions under the banner “How to Art World? Lessons in Value”.
These sessions will tackle pressing questions about the art market, creative industries, and the role of art in society. Speakers will include representatives from leading institutions such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Gagosian, offering valuable insights into the global art scene.
Moreover, visitors will have the unique opportunity to visit the studios of Saudi Arabia’s best-known contemporary artists, including Ahmed Mater, whose piece Hulm (Dream) will be featured in the At The Edge exhibition. Local galleries like Athr, Hafez, and Lift will also present further exhibitions and workshops throughout the week.
As Art Week Riyadh kicks off, it promises to cement the city’s growing status as a cultural capital, where art, history, and innovation can seamlessly intersect.
The event offers not only a visual feast for art enthusiasts but also a space for meaningful conversations that will define the future of art in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Through this initiative, Riyadh is poised to showcase its deep-rooted cultural heritage while embracing contemporary creativity on the world stage.