Tuwaiq Sculpture Returns to Riyadh With 25 International Artists
This year’s theme Traces of What Will Be explores transformation and the future of cities, with works in locally sourced granite and reclaimed metal joining Riyadh Art’s collection.
Twenty-five artists from 18 countries are taking part in the seventh annual Tuwaiq Sculpture in Riyadh, an international symposium on Tahlia Street that runs until February 22nd, with public access to on-site sculpting until February 5th. The 2026 edition is themed 'Traces of What Will Be', focusing on transformation and the future of cities through contemporary sculpture. Visitors are able to observe the creation of large-scale works as they take shape on site, offering a direct view of the production process.
Organised by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City through Riyadh Art, the curatorial direction is led by artist Lulwah Al-Homoud, photographer Rut Blees Luxemburg and sculptor Sarah Staton, whose practices span public art, spatial research and contemporary visual culture.
Participating artists are working with locally sourced granite and reclaimed metal, aligning the symposium’s material choices with its focus on the city’s evolving form and fabric. The live setting on Tahlia Street allows audiences to follow the progression from raw material to completed sculpture within a defined timeframe.
When completed, the works will join Riyadh Art’s permanent collection and be installed in public spaces across the capital as part of the city’s public art programme. Since its launch in 2019, Tuwaiq Sculpture has hosted more than 150 artists from around the world, with an aim to position Riyadh as a hub for contemporary public art. The current edition maintains the format of commissioning new, site-produced sculptures that transition directly from the symposium to the city’s streets and plazas.
