“Riyadh Art” Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture International Symposium 2025 with 30 Artists from 23 Countries

• More than 750 applications from talented artists across 80 countries were received
• 30 artists from 23 nations have been selected to participate in the 6^th edition of the program
• The Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium will take place in Riyadh from January 15 to February 8, 2025
• The Tuwaiq Sculpture Exhibition will take place in Riyadh from February 12 to February 24, 2025

Ain Alalam – Rashad Iskandrni

Under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Art, Tuwaiq Sculpture has announced the selection of 30 sculptors for the 6th edition of the program, themed “From Then to Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making.” The live sculpting symposium, running from January 15 to February 8, 2025, will bring together local and international artists to create public artworks that integrate into Riyadh’s urban landscape. The symposium will be followed by an exhibition, featuring the completed artworks, running from February 12 to February 24, 2025.

Launched in 2019, Tuwaiq Sculpture is a foundational pillar of the Riyadh Art program, the world’s largest public art program. Riyadh Art seeks to turn the city into a “gallery without walls” by reimagining urban spaces across the capital.

Selected from more than 750 applications from over 80 countries, this year’s 30 artists hail from 23 nations across the globe. Each application was carefully evaluated by the Tuwaiq Sculpture jury panel for the final selection.

Representing a diverse range of talent from local, regional, and international backgrounds, artist proposals reflect this year’s theme, “From Then to Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making.” This year’s theme examines the notion that a work of art is never truly complete, with artists embracing the process over the final outcome. This ongoing pursuit reveals profound beauty and offers a sense of freedom and fulfillment.

This year’s curatorial team is led by Sebastian Betancur-Montoya, an accomplished artist, architect, and activist with nearly two decades of experience creating impactful works across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the SWANA region. As the lead curator, Betancur-Montoya brings his expertise at the intersection of art, architecture, and social-environmental activism to this year’s symposium.

Reflecting on the curatorial theme, Betancur-Montoya stated: “This year, we embrace the endless struggle of the artist as a source of poetry and fulfillment. Through these acts, we can create legacies that bind the past, present, and future in ways that are deeply human and profoundly meaningful.”

Joining him as associate curator is Dr. Manal Al-Harbi, a trailblazing Saudi sculptor and academic with a distinguished career spanning three decades. Her dual role as an artist and educator strengthens the symposium’s efforts to foster cultural dialogue and promote artistic excellence globally.

Established in 2019, the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium recognizes artistic practices as essential to the cultural fabric of cities and as vital instruments for collective wellbeing. In a time of rapid transformation, as exemplified by Riyadh’s dynamic development, the legacy of Tuwaiq Sculpture takes on special significance—serving as placemaking anchors for the present and enduring witnesses for the future.

The symposium contributes to the city’s transformation through the creation of public artworks that foster cultural exchange and ignite creative expression. This year’s symposium will feature an apprenticeship program, interactive workshops, and panel discussions, inviting public engagement with the artistic process and stimulating conversations around art and urban development.

Tuwaiq Sculpture is part of Riyadh Art, an initiative that reimagines urban spaces, fosters creativity, and enriches lives through cultural infrastructure. Launched in 2019 as one of the four initial Mega Projects under Vision 2030 and led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), Riyadh Art has showcased over 500 artworks by local and international artists, attracting millions of visitors. It positions Riyadh as a global hub for contemporary art and culture while integrating art into public life to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.