tuwaiq sculpture transforms riyadh with public large scale artworks

TUWAIQ SCULPTURE EXHIBITION OPENS IN RIYADH

As the capital of Saudi Arabia continues its rapid cultural metamorphosis, the seventh edition of Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium and Exhibition arrives to punctuate the city’s skyline with 25 large-scale works. The exhibition, which runs from February 9 to 22, 2026, occupies Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Al Tahlia), turning a site once defined by water desalination into a into a temporary urban installation. By positioning these large-scale artworks along a historic axis of innovation, the program explores how public art can act as a catalyst for urban renewal and quality of life.

banner: Emergence by Wafa Alqunibit

above: Azm / Samu by Hassan Qureshi

all images courtesy of Riyadh Art

PUBLIC ART IN ACTION RELECTING THE CITY’S ONGOING RENEWAL

Organized by Riyadh Art under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium and Exhibition serves as a cultural platform that bridges local heritage with global perspectives. The 2026 edition’s theme, ‘Traces of What Will Be,’ brought together artists from 18 different countries through a focused curatorial selection process. Over the course of nearly a month, the public was invited to watch as raw, locally sourced stone and reclaimed metal were hewn into finished forms, functioning as a live laboratory to emphasize a material intelligence that responds directly to the city’s evolving identity.

Coexistence by Mohammed Althagafi

CONTRIBUTING NEW WORKS TO RIYADH ART’S PERMANENT COLLECTION

Guided by curators Lulwa Alhomoud, Sarah Staton, and Rut Blees Luxemburg, the participating artists navigate the intersection of human intervention and natural resources. From large-scale abstractions to intricate textures in granite and steel, the sculptures reflect a commitment to durability and the responsible use of materials within the urban context.

The life of these works extends far beyond the temporary exhibition on Al Tahlia. Each of the 25 pieces will eventually join the Riyadh Art’s Permanent Collection, finding a long-term home in prominent public spaces across the city. Since the program’s inception in 2019, more than 170 artists have contributed to this growing civic gallery, with over 60 works already integrated into the daily life of Riyadh residents. Through an accompanying program of workshops and panel talks, Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium continues to weave contemporary art into the very fabric of the community.

REEF by Nilhan Sesalan