Art Week Riyadh offered a refreshing perspective on contemporary art, foregrounding themes of identity, memory, and a profound connection to the land. The event aimed to provide a platform for works that speak to the complexities of the region, moving away from the typical Western-centric narratives that dominate international art spaces.
A Guided Tour with Vittoria Matarrese, Artistic Director and Curator of Art Week Riyadh
The artistic director and curator, Vittoria Matarrese, had a clear intention: to showcase regional talent and foster a conversation grounded in local and cultural contexts. “This wasn’t about jumping into the global art market. It was about highlighting voices and works that resonate with both the local community and the wider world.” While the exhibition centred on Saudi Arabia and its artists, the curators broadened their scope to include the wider MENA region.
Acknowledging the diverse histories that shape this part of the world, they sought to offer a richer, more inclusive narrative: “The region isn’t just Saudi. There’s much more to it — a wide range of experiences that should be recognised.”
Many of the works presented were deeply tied to the land, reflecting personal and collective histories. Mohamed Al Faraj’s piece, for example, drew inspiration from his home in Al-Hasa, incorporating sand and palm trees to create an installation that felt both intimate and expansive: “It’s about how personal stories are connected to larger, universal themes.” Other artists turned their attention to broader social landscapes, interrogating how societies and identities are formed. The exhibition offered a look at the region’s history of abstraction; “Abstraction here usually begins with something recognisable, something rooted in local culture, and then it transforms into something that speaks universally.”
What truly stood out during Matarrese’s guided tour was how the event balanced local pride with a global perspective. It wasn’t merely about showcasing art — it was about challenging the ways in which we view and interpret the region’s stories. The exhibition was not confined by borders, yet it remained firmly anchored in the land and the people it sought to represent.
This tension between the local and the global was also central to the panel discussion “Where do the Visual Arts Take Place Today?”, hosted during Art Week Riyadh. Moderated by curator Shumon Basar, the conversation shifted seamlessly between institutions, public art, personal encounters, and hybrid formats. Chiara Costa, Head of Programs at Fondazione Prada, proposed that exhibitions are no longer sufficient: “what matters now is curating entire atmospheres, even moods, across disciplines and platforms”. Reem Fadda, Director of Culture Programming at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, advocated for art that exists beyond the white cube, firmly grounded in public space and community engagement. Rayyane Tabet, Artist, reminded the audience that some of the most impactful artistic moments are the smallest — a fleeting gesture, a word on a wall, something unexpected and intimate. Matarrese brought it all together, stressing that this hybridity isn’t just aesthetic — it’s structural. Today’s visual arts don’t remain static; they move, stretch, and adapt, much like the region itself.
Art Week Riyadh served as a powerful reflection of the contemporary art scene in the region, offering insight into the evolving conversations and connections that are shaping its future.
About Vittoria Matarrese
Vittoria Matarrese, trained as an architect, has built her career at the intersection of the arts. She has held key roles, including Head of International Communications at the Venice Biennale (2001–2005), Editor-in-Chief of TV5 Monde’s cinema programs (2005–2008), Artistic Director at the Villa Medici in Rome (2008–2010), and Director of Performing Arts and Curator at the Palais de Tokyo (2010–2022). At the Palais de Tokyo, she directed the Do Disturb performance festival, launched La Manutention artist residency, and co-curated major projects such as Natures Mortes with Anne Imhof. From 2022 to 2025, she led the Bally Foundation in Lugano, where she developed a residency program and curated exhibitions such as Arcadia and Sarah Brahim’s solo show.
Named Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2017 by the French government, Matarrese has also taught at institutions such as the Sorbonne and regularly serves as a jury member for international competitions. In 2025, she was appointed Artistic Director of the inaugural Art Week Riyadh, set to take place in April.