Vasari Codex. A living chronicle of the art world.

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 12, 2026

Saudi artists showcased in Venice exhibition

The Saudi-backed exhibition "A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World" is currently on view alongside the 61st Venice Biennale at the Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice. Featuring 78 works by 29 contemporary artists, nine of whom are from Saudi Arabia, the show includes pieces by Ahmed Mater, Sarah Abu Abdallah, Nasser Al-Salem, and Basmah Felemban. Mater contributes "100 Found Objects" (2015), a work inspired by objects found near the Kaaba in Makkah, while Abu Abdallah's "Following the Lines" (2022) maps emotional landscapes through collaged photos and drawings. Al-Salem's "Each Time a Star Goes Astray" is a specially commissioned aluminum-and-stainless steel sculpture transforming Arabic calligraphy into astronomical imagery, and Felemban's "Voyage 01" uses AI to create prints inspired by cultural narratives.

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 9, 2026

Egyptian pavilion at Venice Biennale silently speaks volumes

The Egyptian National Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale presents "Silence Pavilion: Between the Tangible and the Intangible," a solo exhibition by Egyptian artist Armen Agop. The immersive installation guides visitors through three sequential spaces—reflective, tactile, and contemplative—featuring three granite sculptures and two large paintings, with soft sounds and lotus scent enhancing the experience. Visitors are asked to enter in silence and put away cameras and phones, encouraging a meditative engagement with the works.

museum exhibitions schedule May 21, 2026

Saudi artists explore faith in Hajj exhibit held in car showroom

A car showroom in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was transformed into a Hajj-themed art gallery for the exhibition "Where the Journey Begins," held from May 4 to 14. Organized by Genesis Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Co. and the Darb Al-Fann foundation, the show featured over 25 artworks selected from more than 100 entries by a committee of well-known Saudi artists. The works, created by modern and contemporary Saudi artists including Sultan Othman, Mohammed Jamal, and Majed Baswad, explore the spiritual stages of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, from Makkah through ritual sites to Madinah.

museum exhibitions schedule May 15, 2026

Inside Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Saudi Arabia's national pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale features a new installation by Saudi-Palestinian artist Dana Awartani titled "May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones." Curated by Art Jameel's director Antonia Carver and assistant curator Hafsa Alkhudairi, the work comprises over 29,000 handmade clay bricks arranged in intricate mosaics referencing 23 threatened cultural heritage sites across the Arab world, including Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. The installation, which took more than 30,000 labor hours with 32 artisans, has become a crowd favorite since the biennale opened on May 9.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 22, 2026

Oman announces artist, concept for Venice Biennale

Haitham Al-Busafi will represent Oman at the 61st Venice Biennale, serving as both artist and curator. His installation, titled "Zinah," transforms the tradition of Omani silver horse adornment (Al-zaanah) into an immersive environment of sand, suspended metal, and collectively generated sound. Located in the Arsenale Artiglierie and commissioned by Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the work was developed through a community workshop in Muscat where participants inscribed marks into silver forms. The exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, 2025.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 13, 2026

‘Beaming smiles’: Karachi art exhibit puts artists with Down syndrome on path to empowerment

The Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi recently hosted the fourth edition of 'Rangon Ki Lehr,' an exhibition showcasing over 90 paintings by 80 artists with Down syndrome. Organized by the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), the event featured works created by students in the 'Education for Life' program, drawing participants from Karachi, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. The exhibition serves as a professional platform where artists take full creative control of their canvases, choosing their own techniques, colors, and subjects.

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 23, 2026

‘We’re rooted in the local community, but also global’ — inside AlUla Arts Festival

The fifth AlUla Arts Festival has opened in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, running until February 14. The festival features land art, workshops, dance, and musical performances set against the ancient oasis landscape. Highlights include the return of Desert X AlUla with 11 site-specific installations by local and international artists, curated under the theme 'Space Without Measure' inspired by Kahlil Gibran. The exhibition 'Arduna' marks the pre-opening of the upcoming Contemporary Art Museum of AlUla, a collaboration with Centre Pompidou. The AlJadidah Arts District also hosts numerous initiatives, including photography exhibitions at Villa Hegra and concerts by the AlUla Music Hub.

trending_up market schedule Oct 16, 2025

Christie’s highlights Arab artists in London auction

Christie’s is highlighting several Arab artists in its upcoming Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale, scheduled for November 6 in London with an online preview from October 28 to November 11. Featured works include Paul Guiragossian’s 'Automne,' a masterpiece from the 1980s that previously achieved the second-highest auction price for the artist; Abdulhalim Radwi’s 'Untitled,' a semi-abstract cityscape blending traditional architecture and modernist influences; Samia Halaby’s 'Gardenia' from her 'Diagonal Flight' series; Kamal Boullata’s 'Nocturne I,' exploring geometric abstraction and exile; Mahmoud Said’s 'Mekarzel Hill,' a landscape once owned by a former Egyptian prime minister; and Laila Shawa’s 'City of Peace (Jerusalem),' a socio-political commentary on Palestinian life under occupation.

trending_up market schedule Aug 21, 2025

Middle Eastern art takes center stage in Sotheby’s London exhibition

Sotheby’s London is hosting an exhibition previewing highlights from its upcoming Modern & Contemporary Middle East and Arts of the Islamic World & India auctions. Featured works include Abdulhalim Radwi’s 'Untitled (Desert Scene)' (1975), a mix of oil and sand on canvas estimated at £40,000–£60,000; Ahmed Mater’s 'X-ray Painting 5' from his pioneering series blending medicine and art; Paul Guiragossian’s 'Portefaix en Chomage,' depicting unemployed porters; and Fahrelnissa Zeid’s 'Untitled (Flowers)' from the late 1940s, bridging figurative and abstract styles.

article local schedule Jun 29, 2025

Art in Madinah through the eyes of a local artist

Artist and Madinah native Meshal Al-Hujaili discusses the expanding art scene in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, which blends traditional and contemporary influences rooted in Islamic heritage and cultural identity. His work, including the painting 'Flow' created during the Madinah International Symposium 2023, is currently displayed at the Madinah Art Center, where he also collaborates on exhibitions like 'Path' with curator Nouf Al-Balawi. Al-Hujaili describes how the center's programs, training sessions, and dialogues have fostered his artistic growth and exposure to other artists.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 24, 2025

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.

person Arab News