An Egyptian modernist master comes to Riyadh

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we highlight new art openings in Riyadh and Al-Ula, a book by the late Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr exploring 200 years of the kingdom’s sartorial heritage, and a new homegrown restaurant blending Japanese and Saudi cuisine. Also on the radar: the fourth edition of Rally Jameel, the world-class women’s navigational rally, which kicks off for the first time in Petra, Jordan, before crossing into Saudi Arabia.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: “The Will” by Ahmed Nawar

Ahmed Nawar's "Will of a Nation" (2020). (Courtesy of the artist and Hafez Gallery)

The work of prominent Egyptian artist Ahmed Nawar is the focus of a new exhibition at Hafez Gallery in Riyadh opening during Riyadh Art Week. The show traces the evolution of Nawar’s drawings from the 1960s to the present, offering a rare glimpse into the creative journey of one of Egypt’s modernist pioneers.

Born in Gharbia in 1945, Nawar graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Cairo University in 1967, later studying and working in Spain before returning to Egypt, where he served as head of the Ministry of Culture’s fine arts sector. His work is known for its lively figurative and abstract renderings coupled with sharp geometric forms found in his paintings, drawings and installations. 

The drawings on view reflect the beauty and challenges of life in Egypt during a period of political and socio-economic change. With nods to Egypt’s ancient past and contemporary struggles, Nawar captures both resilience and beauty in his country’s cultural narrative. A steadfast presence in Egypt’s visual arts scene, his influence extends across the Arab world, particularly during the modernist period. This exhibition offers a vibrant and intimate perspective on the works of one of Egypt’s artistic pioneers.

Dates: until May 30

Location: Hafez Gallery, JAX District H19

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Kayzo by Myazu

A view of delicious Japanese dishes at Kayzo. (Courtesy of Kayzo)

This homegrown restaurant from the makers of Saudi contemporary restaurant Myazu derives its name from two Japanese words meaning volcano and ocean. The restaurant, which features an inviting and warm ambiance, includes signature dishes by Myazu as well as additional dishes that spotlight Japanese culinary traditions. 

Located in Riyadh’s Sulimaniya district, the restaurant is helmed by Saudi chef Rayan Alayesh, whose unique journey took him from studying engineering at Penn State to training at Le Cordon Bleu. Born and raised in Jeddah, Alayesh has quickly become a rising name in the local culinary scene. One of his favorite dishes to prepare, as he shared in an interview with Arab News, is kimchi fried rice made with Japanese rice and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Be sure to try the restaurant’s seasonal specials that highlight its modern Japanese flavors.

Location: Sulimaniyah, Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Sultan bin Fahad mixed media work “aFFAIRSiNoRDER” (2024) on view soon at ATHR Gallery – Al-Ula. (Courtesy of the artist and ATHR Gallery)

• Symbolic Gestures at ATHR Gallery – Al-Ula

Following Riyadh Art Week, ATHR Gallery’s Al-Ula space will debut a new exhibition titled “Symbolic Gestures,” featuring the work of Saudi artist Sultan bin Fahad and Paris-based design studio Hall Haus. The exhibition draws inspiration from Al-Ula’s rich cultural and natural landscape, exploring the balance between tradition and modernity, honoring heritage while navigating an ever-evolving world.

Date: until July 18

Location: ATHR Gallery – Al-Ula

Find more information here.

• Rally Jameel 2025

The fourth edition of Rally Jameel, the Middle East’s premier women’s navigation rally, kicks off on April 22, marking another milestone for motorsports in the region. For the first time, the rally will begin in Petra, Jordan, and cross into Saudi Arabia passing through five Saudi cities, including Tabuk, Al-Ula, Hail and Qassim. This year’s edition will see a record number of participants, with 70 teams representing 39 countries and 25 motorsports federations.

Dates: April 22-28

Location: Jordan and Saudi Arabia

Find more information here.

• “Vessel of Wreckage”

Saudi multidisciplinary artist Basmah Felemban takes center stage in a solo exhibition launched during Riyadh Art Week, showcasing a range of works including paintings, graphic drawings, interactive pieces and photographic imagery. Set against a sci-fi-inspired backdrop, the exhibition explores themes of migration and memory from both a personal and collective standpoint. The world that Felemban creates in these works charts the challenges of tracing her family’s journey from Palembang, Indonesia, to Saudi Arabia.

Dates: until June 26

Location: JAX Warehouse Space (H21)

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: “Darzah”

"Darzah: 200 Years of Sartorial Heritage in Saudi Arabia" is a newly released hardcover from Rizzoli that celebrates the legacy of the late Safeya Binzagr, a pioneering artist in Saudi Arabia’s modern art movement. This landmark volume is the first high-end publication dedicated to traditional Saudi costumes, drawing from the extensive Darat Safeya Binzagr collection and featuring authentic, previously unpublished artworks and archival materials.

Often referred to as the “founding mother” of Saudi fine art, Binzagr was known for her abstract figurative works depicting both personal and collective life in the kingdom from the 1960s onward. Born into a prominent merchant family in Jeddah, she held her first solo exhibition in 1968 and went on to inspire generations of Saudi artists.

In 2000, she established the Darat Safeya Binzagr, a space that houses her complete body of work alongside a private collection of traditional artifacts, textiles and garments. Many of these pieces are featured in this rare and beautifully crafted tome, offering a vivid portrait of the kingdom’s sartorial heritage and its enduring role in local culture and history.

5. View from Riyadh

Lamya Gargash, The First-Floor Ballroom, The Holburne Museum, Bath, United Kingdom, 2024. (Courtesy of the artist and The Third Line, Dubai)

As part of a group exhibition at The Third Line during Riyadh Art Week, Emirati photographer Lamya Gargash presents a striking image of the first-floor ballroom at The Holburne Museum in Bath, England. Shot in 2024, the photograph is part of her ongoing “Kun” series, a title drawn from the Arabic word meaning “to be.”

The series documents a transformative journey through liminal spaces in Dubai, Sharjah, London, and Bath, with each location serving as a site for spiritual reflection and personal growth. These spaces are connected in Gargash’s photographs through a long, evocative piece of carefully curated gold drapery.

6. By the numbers

• Petra, Jordan is approximately 564 kilometers (350 miles) from Al-Ula, with the drive between the two taking around 8 hours and 36 minutes.

• The average direct flight time from Al-Ula to Jordan is 1 hour and 40 minutes.