Paint the town – Tuwaiq Sculpture takes art to the streets of Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as the art capital of the Middle East. The one-of-a-kind art festival, Tuwaiq Sculpture, has returned for its seventh edition. The event runs until 22 February 2026, and this year’s theme, Traces of What Will Be, is apt for a country undergoing headline-grabbing changes under Saudi Vision 2030. FACT attended the opening ceremony and met with the artists and curators redefining the boundaries of contemporary sculpture.
Tuwaiq Sculpture is part of Riyadh Art and turns the city into a gallery without walls. The festival brings together artists from within the country and from around the world. It makes art accessible, both through its open-submission policy and the way it showcases works.
The 2026 edition features 25 artists from 18 countries, from Iran to India and Sweden to Serbia. The process unfolds in two stages: the first allows the public to observe the production process, while the second exhibits the finished artworks. And, this year’s edition has created a first for the festival, as it is curated by three women: Sarah Staton, Rut Blees Luxemburg and Lulwah Al Hamoud.
Sarah Alruwayti, Director of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, explained: “The seventh edition of Tuwaiq Sculpture received more than 590 applications, reflecting the cultural diversity and global interest in the symposium. Their proposals show meaningful engagement with the theme and reflect the strength and diversity of contemporary sculptural practice. We look forward to welcoming them to Riyadh for the creation of new works that will become lasting additions to the city.”
Meet the artists
What makes Tuwaiq Sculpture unique is that visitors can gain a behind-the-scenes look at live sculpting. The challenge: one month, an assistant, and blocks of raw materials, including locally sourced granite. The artists produce large-scale sculptures from these blocks, which originate in the country and, once completed, return as public art.
Sculpting has traditionally been associated with men, from Michelangelo to Rodin. At Tuwaiq Sculpture, it is common to see women in abayas, headscarves, or niqabs using chisels, hammers, and mallets. This year, an impressive number of Saudi female artists are participating, including Azhar Saeed, Helwa Al Atwi, Masia Shaldan and Wafa Alqunibit.
Wafa studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design and returned to the Kingdom in 2017. She has previously exhibited at the festival, and her latest work, Emergence, combines carefully cut curved edges. She reflected: “My inspiration was water. I chose the materials bronze, sand and stone. I’m so happy to see Saudi Arabia going through so much change. I love making art outdoors, which people can touch and see. I see it as my responsibility to make art that exists in public spaces.”
Hassan Quershi is from Pakistan and was excited to be in Riyadh. His piece, AZM/SAMU, draws inspiration from the painted trucks commonly found in Pakistan. He explained: “My work reflects the expansion of Saudi Arabia and its acceptance of multiculturalism. From a distance, on television, your view of the world is limited. The biggest challenge was working with granite in one month.”
Nilhan Sesalan, from Turkey, created Reef. The stainless-steel sculpture combines elements of a ship and a leaf. She shared: “I was inspired by a sunken ship in Jeddah and was thinking about themes of destruction and life. The sculpture will later be placed on water, giving the effect of it swimming. It will be like Icarus and will feel as if it’s flying.”
If you’re feeling inspired, you can meet the artists, attend panel talks and join interactive workshops. Break the mould.
GO: Visit https://riyadhart.sa for more information.