Riyadh, 10 Rajab 1447 AH (30 December 2025)

The Riyadh Art program has announced the list of artists taking part in the seventh Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, scheduled to run from 10 January to 22 February 2026, as the symposium continues to cement its standing as one of the world's leading contemporary sculpture platforms, bringing together a select group of local and international sculptors to create new works that enrich Riyadh's public art scene.

This year's edition is held under the theme "Features of What Will Be," inviting artists to reflect on the role sculpture can play in expressing the material, cultural and conceptual traces that help shape the future of cities and communities. Twenty-five artists from 18 countries around the world were selected, including Saudi artists, in a mix that reflects a diversity of cultural backgrounds and artistic perspectives.

Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium director Sarah Al-Ruwaite said the number of applicants for the seventh edition exceeded 590, reflecting the symposium's growing international standing. A judging committee of sculpture experts and specialists selected the participating artists, focusing on the quality of the artistic proposal, how well the proposed works align with the symposium's theme, and their potential to enrich Riyadh's public art scene, with each artist offering a distinct artistic perspective reflecting the diversity of contemporary sculpture practices.

As part of the ongoing development of artistic practices, Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 introduces two new sculpture categories: granite with the option of incorporating stainless steel, and recycled metals, a step that underscores the symposium's commitment to sustainability concepts in public art.

Twenty artists will work on sculptures using granite, while five artists will create their works from recycled metals, over a period of four weeks, producing large-scale sculptures that will later join the permanent collection of public artworks in Riyadh, further enriching the presence of art in public spaces.

The seventh Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium features a comprehensive cultural program that includes a live-carving period and a community-partnership program letting visitors follow the sculptures as they take shape and take part in accompanying dialogue sessions and workshops, followed by an art exhibition featuring the works completed during this edition, in an experience that combines artistic creativity with community engagement.