Bonhams, the New York-based auction house, will hold its first exhibition in Saudi Arabia next month. Titled "Judhoor / Roots: The Origins of Saudi Modernism," the three-day show opens October 8 at the LIFT Gallery in Riyadh's JAX District, followed by a London auction on November 25. The exhibition surveys Saudi modern art from early pioneers like Abdulrahman Al Soliman, Safeya Binzagr, and Mohammed Al Saleem to later generations, highlighting works such as Al Saleem's horizon paintings and Al Soliman's 1981 depiction of Al-Ahsa oasis made with local soil. It also features archival material from Dar Al-Funoon, Saudi Arabia's first modern art space, and foregrounds female voices, including Binzagr, the first woman to stage a solo exhibition in the kingdom. A panel discussion will accompany the show, cohosted by collectors Taha Al Kuwaiz and Muneera Al Touq.
This initiative matters because it marks Bonhams's strategic expansion into the Middle East, a rapidly growing art market. By spotlighting Saudi modernism and female artists, the exhibition aligns with the kingdom's cultural transformation under Vision 2030, while also positioning Bonhams to build relationships with regional collectors and institutions. The appointment of Suzy Sikorski as business development director for the Middle East underscores the auction house's long-term commitment to the region, bridging local art history with global sales.