Visual Arts Commission to Launch First Edition of Art Week Riyadh in April

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has unveiled the program and participants for its inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh, taking place from 6–13 April 2025. The week-long celebration of Saudi Arabia's dynamic art scene will take place across various cultural sites, including JAX District and Al Mousa Center among other locations across Riyadh, bringing together leading local, regional, and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and art enthusiasts.
 CEO of the Visual Arts Commission Dina Amin said: "Art Week Riyadh is an opportunity to bring together the many layers of Saudi Arabia's art scene. It fosters meaningful conversations and further strengthens the connections between local and global artistic communities.” She added that by weaving together different voices and historical stages, the event hopes to help shape the future of art in the region.
 Head of Art Week Riyadh Princess Adwaa bint Yazeed bin Abdullah Al Saud says the initiative embodies a firm belief in the power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect us. It is not just about presenting exceptional works but about creating a space where ideas, histories, and creative visions intersect, reflecting Riyadh's dynamism and continuous growth.
 The inaugural edition is held under the theme "At The Edge." Curated around three thematic threads — Everyday Life, Landscapes, and Motifs — At The Edge reflects the fluid intersections between tradition and innovation, local narratives and global influences.
 JAX District will host the flagship exhibition, which will bring together over 45 galleries from the Kingdom, the Middle East, and North Africa, as well as international galleries, each presenting curated selections that collectively explore the evolving cultural dialogues between Saudi Arabia, the wider MENA region, and the global contemporary art scene. JAX District will also host an array of exhibitions, presented in partnership with some of the country's most influential cultural institutions, emphasizing the critical role of patronage and collecting in shaping and preserving visual culture in the Kingdom. Featured works will notably include a curated presentation of artworks from the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) collection, shedding light on the relations between material memory and art transformations.
 Art Jameel will also present a selection of artworks highlighting key milestones in developing video art in the region, addressing themes such as identity, belonging, and cultural transformations. Moreover, the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) will explore the progression of Saudi abstraction through the practices of key figures such as Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, and Taha Al-Sabban, alongside a new generation of practitioners who reshape the concept of abstraction in Saudi art.
 At the Al Mousa Center, over 15 galleries will present solo and group exhibitions specially conceived for Art Week Riyadh, reflecting the diverse artistic scene in the Kingdom and highlighting Saudi art pioneers and emerging talents. Participating galleries include AV Gallery, Abstract Art Gallery, and Wrd Art Gallery.
 Art Week Riyadh will feature a diverse cultural program at JAX District. Entitled "How to Art World? Lessons in Value," the program will feature a series of talks and engaging workshops that reflect on themes and questions facing the visual arts with participation from local and global art institutions. A dedicated moving Image program will highlight the medium's capacity to explore complex personal, cultural, and social narratives and feature the work of Saudi and global artists. Some of Saudi Arabia's leading artists, including Ahmed Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait, and Muhannad Shono, will open the doors to their studios, allowing a unique opportunity for direct interaction with their creative styles. Meanwhile, resident galleries Athr, Hafez, and Lift will present a curated lineup of exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive workshops to discuss questions facing contemporary art.
 Riyadh Art Week offers an opportunity to explore several of the capital's most prominent museums and art destinations. Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) will present the exhibitions entitled Art of the Kingdom and Adaptability Ceramics, alongside a series of experimental workshops and pop-ups.
 The event will allow visitors to learn about the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (WRTH), Shamalat, Hewar Gallery, and the studio of leading Saudi artists Ali Al Ruzaiza, Lulwah Al Homoud, Abdullah AlOthman, and others. These destinations reflect the convergence between past and present, shedding light on the dynamic transformation in the Saudi art scene.
 Art Week Riyadh is an initiative of the Saudi Visual Arts Commission to explore the essence of Riyadh's evolving cultural scene and enhance the city's presence on the local, regional, and international scenes. The program is designed to establish a thriving, engaging environment that honors the past, celebrates the present, and builds for the future, showcasing the depth and breadth of Saudi Arabia's art landscape.