"Riyadh Art" Reveals 75 artworks within the permanent art collection
The Royal Commission for the city of Riyadh revealed, via the Riyadh Art revealed 75 new works of art within the collection of permanent artworks in various locations in the capital, as part of a continuous path to expand the presence of art in public spaces, in addition to plans to add new works during the coming period.
This step comes within the program’s efforts to enrich daily life in the city of Riyadh, and enhance the presence of art as an integrated element in the urban scene, thus contributing to the formation of a cultural and creative environment that reflects the status of the capital regionally and internationally.
As one of the largest public art programs in the world, the program currently includes 75 permanent artworks installed across the city, with plans to add 115 new works.
Global Participation
35 Saudi artists participated in implementing these works, along with more than 100 international artists from 45 countries, including Anish Kapoor, Giuseppe Penone, and Jeff Koons, in addition to artists Saudis such as Zaman Jassim, Mohammed Al-Salim, and Manal Al-Dowayan.
The works are distributed in the streets, main axes, cultural centers, squares and squares, allowing the city’s residents and visitors to interact with them during their daily commute, becoming part of the rhythm of life in the capital.
The works are executed through a combination of artistic commissions and acquisitions, where the commissioned works are specially designed to fit their locations and integrate with their surroundings. Al-Omrani.
The recent commissions were based on an international competition in which 161 artists participated, 72 of whom were qualified, and resulted in the submission of 70 artistic proposals.
Among future projects is the implementation of 12 large-scale sculptural and urban works along major transportation corridors, with the participation of international names such as Alexander Calder, El Anatsui, Janet Echelman, Anselm Kiefer, And Idris Khan, Ryoji Ikeda, and Ugo Rondinone.
Modern works
Engineer Badr Al-Shenaifi, senior director of the program, explained that these works were designed to be part of the daily experience of the city, noting that the selection of their locations is based on studying patterns of movement, ensuring their integration into squares and squares.
Among the most prominent recent works: “Empty Stage” by artist Nobuo Sekineh on the sports track, “Balance” by Giuseppe Penone in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, and “Family Tree” by Subodh Gupta in the King Abdullah Financial Center, along with “Golden Dunes” by Zaman Jassim, and a work by the artist Ahmed Angawi that combines geometric formations and the audio element.
The works also included “Running Beyond” by the artist Angelo Bonello, executed on the pedestrian bridge at the intersection of King Abdulaziz Road and Hisham bin Abdulmalik Road, where it transforms the crossing point. It becomes a visual landmark by integrating movement, light and infrastructure.
In the Diplomatic Quarter, the work “Diamond (Red)” by Jeff Koons and “Mirror of the Sky – Blue” by Anish Kapoor stand out, while the collection also includes works by the late artist Muhammad Al-Salim, which were acquired and restored in preparation for display in multiple locations.
It is noteworthy that the “Riyadh Art” program was launched in 2019, and is considered one of the major projects within the Saudi vision. 2030, and aims to transform the capital into an open art gallery through permanent works and specific programmes, including “Noor Al Riyadh” and “Tuwaiq Sculpture”, which has presented hundreds of works since its launch and attracted millions of visitors, contributing to shaping the city’s growing cultural scene.
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