The Visual Arts Commission of Saudi Arabia has revealed the curatorial team for the inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh, taking place from 6th to 13th April 2025: Vittoria Matarrese, Artistic Director and Curator; Basma Harasani, Associate Curator; Victoria Gandit Lelandais, Associate Curator; and Shumon Basar, Curator – Public Program.
The week-long event will be headquartered at the JAX District with activations across the city and will bring together leading local, regional, and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and art enthusiasts, celebrating and amplifying Saudi Arabia’s role as a center of global cultural engagement.
Held under the theme At The Edge, Art Week Riyadh will feature a curated selection of works from over 35 local, regional, and international galleries, collections, and a public program of talks, performances, and more. At The Edge will delve into the dynamic essence of Riyadh, highlighting its evolving cultural landscape and growing presence on the international stage. The curatorial team expanded on the concept, emphasizing that, through its program, Art Week Riyadh unites major cultural institutions, galleries, prominent collections, and independent spaces. Together, they spotlight the local and regional art scenes alongside international connections.
“Art Week Riyadh represents an extraordinary opportunity to engage with a city and region undergoing profound cultural transformation. The inaugural edition, At the Edge, is a platform to explore these shifts and reveal how tradition and acceleration coexist and evolve.”
Vittoria Matarrese, formerly the Director of the Bally Foundation in Switzerland and of the performing arts department at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris
Art Week Riyadh, 6th – 13th April, INFO
Art Week Riyadh is an initiative of Saudi Arabia’s Visual Arts Commission — one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, leading the development of the visual arts sector in Saudi Arabia.
About
Art Week Riyadh, a new initiative by the Visual Arts Commission, is a city-wide platform for showcasing and celebrating the dynamic Saudi art landscape. Rooted in the country’s thriving art scene, it will spotlight Riyadh’s position as a key art world destination, uniting leading local and international institutions, galleries, patrons and practitioners. This distinctive week-long event will feature curated selections presented by galleries, highlights from prominent collections, and an engaging public program – all of which aim to become an inclusive platform for artistic dialogue and exchange, nurturing a culture of art collecting and patronage, and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s creative community.
The Visual Arts Commission is one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture. Founded in 2020, it is leading the development of the visual arts sector in Saudi Arabia. The Commission is working to nurture the talent of art enthusiasts, practitioners, and professionals in the country, and support the production and exhibition of artwork in all its forms, locally and internationally.
MORE: visualarts.moc.gov.sa
