Download our App
Directions to Ithra
We are closed and will open at 09:00 am
"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 November 7, 2026.
Selected Artworks
from the Exhibition
Ibrahim Bugis (1953 Makkah Al-Mukarramah)
The Bright Shore
1986
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Ibrahim Bugis (1953 Makkah Al-Mukarramah)
The Old Siqayah
Mid 1970s
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Ibrahim Alfassam (1955 Diriyah)
My Father
1977
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Abdulrahman Alsoliman (1954 al-Hasa)
Mosque Between Palms
1983
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Khalil Hassan Khalil (1957 Jazan)
Clippings on a White Wall
1986
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Abdullah Hammas (1953 Abha)
Untitled
1973
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Abdulhamid Albaqshi (1950 Al-Hofuf)
Untitled
1974 / 1976
Oil on carton
Courtesy of the artist
Abdulhamid Albaqshi (1950 Al-Hofuf)
The Loud Silence
1973
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
In Collaboration with
