ARTnews interviews Mohammed Hafiz, co-founder of Athr Gallery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of its Newsmakers series. Hafiz discusses the evolution of the Saudi art scene since Athr's founding in 2009, the gallery's expansion into multiple locations and a foundation offering grants and residencies, and the role of grassroots patrons and collectors before the Ministry of Culture's involvement in 2018. The interview, conducted at the Athr Foundation in Riyadh during the first annual Art Week Riyadh, also touches on Hafiz's personal history with art, including buying his first artwork in high school in the 1990s, and challenges misconceptions that the Saudi art scene began only recently.
This interview matters because it provides an insider perspective on the rapid development of Saudi Arabia's contemporary art ecosystem, which has gained global attention following the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and major initiatives like Art Week Riyadh and Art Dubai. Hafiz's account counters narratives that the region lacked art infrastructure before 2009, highlighting a long-standing culture of collecting and craftsmanship, such as Al-Qatt Al-Asiri wall paintings recognized by UNESCO. The story underscores the growing influence of Saudi galleries and foundations in the international art market and the importance of local voices in shaping the country's cultural future.