Applications are open to artists from around the world who have at least five years of experience in sculpting and exhibiting in outdoor spaces and galleries. Artists are invited to send their proposals in response to the curatorial theme ‘From Then to Now‘.

Following a rigorous review process, 30 local and international sculptors will be invited to participate in the symposium, where they will create large scale sculptures in a live setting, made from Saudi-sourced granite of three different colors.

Participating artists will be invited to stay in Riyadh throughout the creation period, with materials, tools and assistants being provided to them. In addition to an artist fee, the program offers all expenses, including accommodation as well as return flights for international artists.

Further details about participating in Tuwaiq Sculpture are in the Artist Open Call Invitation document, which can be found in the Related Links section on this page.

To apply please complete the application form at the bottom of this page.

Tuwaiq Sculpture 2025 will take place from January to February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

FROM THEN TO NOW
“Joy in the struggle of making”

A work of art is never completed. Artists, though, opt to trade completion for abandonment. There can be a wealth of beauty to be taken in from this absurd condition, and the selflessness of such a seemingly endless quest can be a source of freedom and fulfillment.

The symposium aims to acknowledge artistic practices as a fundamental part of the cultural life of cities and as an instrument for collective wellbeing. In times of fast-paced development, such as the one Riyadh is experiencing, the legacy of Tuwaiq’s Sculpture is of particular importance; these will become a placemaking anchor for the present and witnesses for the future.

This curatorial proposal invites us to appreciate the fulfillment and poetry contained in the movement from one point to another, found within the artist’s process.

Tuwaiq Sculpture

Tuwaiq Sculpture is an annual sculpture symposium that brings local and international artists together to create public artworks in a live setting. Through an interactive program of workshops, school visits, and talks, Tuwaiq Sculpture engages diverse communities and bolsters cultural exchanges. The symposium culminates in an on-site exhibition, with the sculptures enriching the Riyadh Art collection and later becoming a permanent feature of the Saudi capital’s urban fabric.

Tuwaiq Sculpture is a platform where local and international artists meet, collaborate, and create large-scale public artworks in a live setting. The open format of the symposium allows the public to observe the creative process, participate in interactive workshops, and discuss the history and future of public art, effectively contributing to the enrichment of the cultural scene in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since its inception, Tuwaiq Sculpture has engaged with over 90 world-renowned sculptors and thousands of visitors. It is an integral part of the Riyadh Art public initiative, which aims to transform the city into a gallery without walls. Through the project, more than 1,000 artworks will be displayed across Riyadh, in neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces, elevating its status as a top city in the world for sustainability and quality of life, in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.