This free exhibition maps 50 years of Gulf creativity, from pre-oil histories to rapid urbanisation.
Art Across the Arabian Gulf has opened at the Misk Art Institute in Riyadh, taking over the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall from 5 November 2025 to 31 March 2026. Bringing together more than 70 artists and 150 artworks, the exhibition traces the region’s artistic evolution across key historical periods. Entry is free, inviting audiences of all ages to encounter a broad and nuanced portrait of Gulf culture.
The curatorial lens spans the mid-20th century through the 1990s, a formative stretch when artists defined visual languages that continue to shape the region today. Visitors will see intergenerational conversations unfold among trailblazing voices, with works that underscore how artists responded to changing social, economic, and urban realities. The presentation revisits formative chapters of modern Gulf art and foregrounds the communities that enriched the cultural landscape then and now.
Five themes guide the journey. Cultural heritage and development charts the preservation and renewal of tradition. Seafaring heritage highlights maritime trade routes, pearl diving and migration as shared strands in the region’s story. Resilience examines how artists navigated transformation and upheaval. Abstraction and textual expression explores script, symbol and form as carriers of meaning. Materiality and experimentation focuses on the inventive use of mediums that anchor contemporary practice in place.
Across these sections, the exhibition assembles a rare spectrum of works that map half a century of change, from the pre-oil era to the rise of contemporary cities. It reflects the Gulf’s cultural memory during rapid modernisation, revealing how artists turned to folklore and oral traditions to address questions of identity and belonging. Previously overlooked narratives, including those that were intentionally hidden or marginalised, are brought into view to encourage fresh dialogue.
The Arabian Gulf emerges not only as a body of water, but as a cultural symbol and a site of shared experiences. By situating local histories within a wider regional frame, the show underscores common threads while celebrating distinct national contexts.
Art Across the Arabian Gulf affirms Misk Art Institute’s commitment to access and inclusion, and to platforming the contributions of Saudi artists within a global conversation. The exhibition is open from today, with free admission throughout its run.
GO: Visit https://miskartinstitute.org for more information.