Riyadh Art Announces Tuwaiq Sculpture 2027 Curators, Curatorial Theme, and Launches Open Call for Artists

Manal Saleh 

Tuwaiq Sculpture 2027 returns in January 2027, under the theme Where Roots Run Deep

• Dr. Soha AlZaid, Aldo Rinaldi and Auronda Scalera announced as 2027 guest curators
• Artists invited to apply to the Open Call from October 18 to November 8, 2026 [nl1] 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – October 18, 2026 – Riyadh Art, under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, today announced the three guest curators, Dr. Soha AlZaid, Aldo Rinaldi and Auronda Scalera, and the curatorial theme, Where Roots Run Deep, for Tuwaiq Sculpture 2027. The eighth edition of the internationally acclaimed sculpture symposium will take place in Riyadh in January 2027. The announcement coincides with the launch of its Open Call for artists to submit proposals to participate.

A flagship event of Riyadh Art, Tuwaiq Sculpture contributes to the wider program’s mission of integrating public art across the city and enriching everyday life through creativity. Riyadh Art is one of four mega projects launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2019, following an initiative by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The Tuwaiq Sculpture 2027 symposium will once again invite the public to watch as 20 artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world create unique works of art over three weeks, inspiring creativity and spotlighting sculpture and public art as a valued and visible part of everyday life in the capital. The symposium will culminate in an exhibition of the completed artworks, which will later be permanently installed across the capital.

Sarah Alruwayti, Director of Tuwaiq Sculpture at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, stated: “Tuwaiq Sculpture is distinctive in the way it opens the creative process to the public. Each year, it brings artists from around the world to Riyadh to work side by side and create large-scale sculptures in full view of residents and visitors, turning each sculpture into a shared experience and deepening the city’s connection to art.”

Bringing together leading voices in sculpture, public art, and contemporary artistic practice, the eighth edition will be curated and guided by Aldo Rinaldi, Auronda Scalera, and Saudi curator Dr. Soha AlZaid. The curatorial theme, Where Roots Run Deep, explores the idea that a place is shaped not only by what appears on its surface, but by its layers and lived experience that give it depth and continuity. Riyadh offers a compelling context for this exploration: a city deeply rooted in its land, history, culture, and people, while undergoing profound transformation. The curators will oversee the selection of participating artists and provide artistic direction throughout the symposium.

Running from October 18 to November 8, 2026, the Open Call invites eligible artists from the Kingdom and around the world to submit proposals in alignment with the curatorial theme. Applicants must have at least three years of professional practice, with a minimum of three completed sculptural commissions and experience exhibiting works publicly. Applications can be submitted at https://riyadhart.rcrc.gov.sa/en/opencall/tuwaiq-sculpture-2027-open-call

The 2027 edition will feature a range of materials including granite, metal, wind breeze blocks or plain blocks, mosaic, and cement or cast stone[nl2] , [FE3] [MS4] as defined by the curatorial and production framework. Selected artists working with stone will have access to Saudi-sourced granite in three distinct colors, Royal Gold, Royal Rose, and Green, encouraging innovative uses of these traditional materials. Selected participants will also receive an honorarium, in addition to full travel and accommodation support.

In parallel with the open symposium showcasing the artists at work, Tuwaiq Sculpture will offer a dynamic community engagement program, actively involving local communities through school and university visits, hands-on workshops, and insightful panel discussions led by experts in art, sculpture, and urbanism. Participating artists will have the chance to share their skills and knowledge, fostering a deeper appreciation for public art among broader audiences.

Since its inception, Tuwaiq Sculpture has brought together more than 145 unique artists from 56 countries, with works created through the symposium enriching public spaces across the city. To date, 62 Tuwaiq Sculpture works have been permanently installed across Riyadh. Through these enduring works, the symposium continues to transform Riyadh’s urban fabric, empowering artists to leave a lasting mark on the city while advancing its global reputation as a center for creativity, cultural exchange, and innovation.

– ENDS –

About Tuwaiq Sculpture

Tuwaiq Sculpture is an annual sculpture symposium that brings Saudi and international artists together to create large-scale sculptures in a live setting, culminating in an on-site exhibition. Through an interactive program of workshops, school visits, and talks, Tuwaiq Sculpture engages diverse communities and fosters cultural exchange. The symposium offers audiences the opportunity to observe the creative process as artworks take shape and to participate in talks and discussions exploring sculpture and public art. Since its inception in 2019, Tuwaiq Sculpture has brought together 147 unique artists from 56 countries and engaged tens of thousands of visitors.Part of Riyadh Art, Tuwaiq Sculpture contributes to the program’s ambition to enrich the everyday lives of Riyadh residents and visitors through public art. Following each edition, the sculptures become part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection and are subsequently installed at locations across the city, extending the legacy of the symposium throughout Riyadh.

About Riyadh Art

Riyadh Art is one of Riyadh’s four original mega projects under Vision 2030 and is led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Launched in 2019, Riyadh Art was developed to support the capital’s transformation, enrich lives, and encourage creative expression and cross-cultural dialogue through public art. Riyadh Art brings together commissioned and acquired works by Saudi and international artists, installed across public spaces and shaped by their surroundings and by the movement of people through the city. These works contribute to Riyadh’s growing creative landscape and support the development of a more beautiful, accessible, and culturally engaged city. For more information visit: https://riyadhart.gov.sa

About the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2027 Curators

Aldo Rinaldi

Aldo Rinaldi is a British curator and producer specializing in commissioning artworks for a wide range of settings. His practice is particularly focused on projects developed outside traditional gallery and museum spaces, with an interest in the intersection of art, architecture, and multidisciplinary collaboration. His commissions include works by Roger Hiorns, Maria Thereza Alves, Idris Khan OBE, Tue Greenfort, Gabriel Kuri, and others, as well as major public art programs across the United Kingdom.

Auronda Scalera

Auronda Scalera is a British - Italian curator, artistic director, and cultural strategist working across contemporary art, digital culture and emerging technologies. Her international practice spans Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with recent projects including Noor Riyadh 2024, Art Dubai Digital, the Lumen Prize Anniversary Auction with Sotheby’s, and Cosmotechnics: Ding Yi as a Planetary Code at Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice. She also lectures and contributes to international forums exploring art, technology and cultural practice.

Dr. Soha AlZaid