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"Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement" offers a comprehensive look at the emergence and development of Saudi Arabia’s art scene during the formative period from the 1960s to the 1980s. It features a diverse range of pioneering artworks, alongside recently uncovered archival materials being shown to the public for the first time as part of this initiative.
This landmark exhibition is based on in-depth research conducted by the Visual Arts Commission, including site visits, interviews with artists, and extensive documentation, which reveal how the first generation of Saudi artists developed distinctive visual languages and built an artistic ecosystem through emerging networks and initiatives. The exhibition explores how artists combined Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage with social and economic transformations, while also drawing inspiration from global art trends, to shape a dynamic and unique art scene in the Kingdom.
“Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement” travelling exhibition is an initiative of the Visual Arts Commission presented in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). The exhibition will be on view from July 13 to November 7, 2026 at Ithra for its second edition, having been originally shown at the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh from January to April 2026.
The exhibition is open from July 13, 2026 to Novomber 7, 2026.
Selected Artworks
from the Exhibition
The Bright Shore
Ibrahim Bugis, The Bright Shore, 1986, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Makkah Al-Mukarramah
The Old Siqayah
Ibrahim Bugis, The Old Siqayah, Mid 1970s, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Makkah Al-Mukarramah
My Father
Ibrahim Alfassam, My Father, 1977, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Diriyah
Mosque Between Palm
Abdulrahman Alsoliman, Mosque Between Palm, 1983 Oil on canvas Courtesy of the artist, Al-Ahsa
Clipping on a White Wall
Khalil Hassan Khalil, Clipping on a White Wall, 1986, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Jazan
Untitled
Abdullah Hammas, Untitled, 1973, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Abha
Untitled
Abdulhamid Albaqshi, Untitled, 1974 / 1976, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Al-Hofuf
The Loud Silence
Abdulhamid Albaqshi, The Loud Silence, 1973, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist, Al-Hofuf
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