A painting by Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr, 'Coffee Shop in Madina Road' (1968), sold for $2.1 million at a Sotheby's auction in Riyadh, setting a new auction record for the artist. The sale price exceeded that of a work by Pablo Picasso sold at the same event, making it the third-highest price ever achieved for an Arab artist at auction in Saudi Arabia.
The record-breaking sale highlights the growing prominence and market value of pioneering Saudi artists, particularly women, on the international stage. Sotheby's framed the auction as part of a strategy to attract global collectors to Saudi Arabia and increase exposure for its foundational artists, signaling a significant shift in the geography and focus of the art market.