diriyah contemporary art biennale 2026 artist list

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced the artist list for the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, opening January 30 in the JAX District of Diriyah, near Riyadh. Titled “In Interludes and Transitions,” the biennale is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed and features over 65 artists, including more than 20 new commissions. Participants range from historic figures like Pacita Abad and Etel Adnan to emerging voices such as Raven Chacon and Dineo Seshee Bopape, working across painting, installation, film, sound, architecture, and publishing.

Why the inaugural Art Week Riyadh was a fair in everything but name

The inaugural Art Week Riyadh (AWR), organized by Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission, took place from April 6-13 in the Jax district of Diriyah. Though officially billed as a non-commercial curated exhibition, the event functioned much like an art fair, with 32 galleries displaying available works, price lists visible on stands, and sales conducted throughout the week. The main exhibition, titled "At The Edge," was curated by Vittoria Matarrese with associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, featuring galleries from Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Standout presentations included works by Ayesha Sultana, Mohamed Bourouissa, Mohammed Al Resayes, and Miramar Al Nayyar, alongside a moving image section and a satellite program of open studios and gallery shows.

Choreography Instead of Cartography

Choreografie statt Kartografie

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled "In Interludes and Transitions," has opened in the JAX District of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Featuring works by approximately 70 artists across five converted warehouses, the exhibition is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed with a scenography designed by Formafantasma. Despite regional geopolitical tensions, the event showcases major installations by international artists such as Petrit Halilaj and Thao Nguyen Phan, emphasizing a "choreographic" rather than cartographic approach to global art.

Monumental commissions and pioneering women artists take centre stage at Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale has opened in Riyadh’s JAX District under the title 'In Interludes and Transitions.' Curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the exhibition features over 65 artists from 35 countries, focusing on themes of migration, oral storytelling, and the movement of ideas across borders. The show is housed in repurposed 1970s industrial warehouses with a scenography designed by Formafantasma that emphasizes intimacy despite the monumental scale of the venues.

The 'Re:Wilding' Group Exhibition Gathers Artistic Voices in Riyadh

The independent group exhibition 'Re:Wilding' opens in Riyadh's JAX District at Misnad Gallery, coinciding with the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. Co-curated by Dena Nahar AlSaud and Dalya Suha Islam, the show features five Saudi and regional artists—Sireen Khalifah, Noor Alwan, Abdullah Al Amoudi, Khadija Arif, and Mashael Alsaie—working across painting, photography, and textiles. The exhibition explores themes of memory, imagination, and the Jungian inner child, aiming to rekindle curiosity and play in adult life.

Printmaking takes center stage at JAX District exhibition

Printworks, an exhibition hosted by the Personage concept store and studio in Riyadh's JAX art district, showcases print-based works by artists, designers, and architects. Curated by Koren Dasoar and Dana Qabbani, the event aims to fill a gap in the local art community by supporting emerging talent and fostering public engagement through an open-door policy. The exhibition features artists including Hayat Osama, Naif Alquba, and the TwoMeem collective, and includes both existing artworks and a live screen-printing studio where visitors can learn about the process and purchase made-to-order prints.