Bonhams, the New York–based auction house, will stage its inaugural initiative in Saudi Arabia with “Judhoor / Roots: The Origins of Saudi Modernism.” The three-day exhibition opens on October 8 at the newly renovated LIFT Gallery in Riyadh’s JAX District and will be followed by a London auction on November 25.
Spotlight on Saudi Modern Art
The exhibition traces the emergence of modern art in Saudi Arabia, featuring early pioneers such as Abdulrahman Al Soliman, Safeya Binzagr, and Mohammed Al Saleem, as well as artists who gained prominence in the 1980s and beyond. Highlights include Al Saleem’s horizon paintings, Al Soliman’s 1981 depiction of Al-Ahsa oasis created using local soil, and archival materials from Dar Al-Funoon, the Kingdom’s first modern art space. The show also foregrounds female voices, particularly Binzagr, who is trained at Central Saint Martins in London and the first woman to hold a solo exhibition in Saudi Arabia, whose cycle documenting traditional attire will be on view. Works by Bakr Sheikhoun, Abdullah Al Shaikh, and other leading figures are also featured.
Events and Regional Expansion
A panel discussion will take place at Maison Assouline near Diriyah, cohosted by collectors Taha Al Kuwaiz and Muneera Al Touq, with participation from artists and scholars including Al Soliman, Najla Al Saleem, Lulwah Al-Homoud, and Nada Al Rakaf. As part of its expansion in the Middle East, Bonhams has appointed Suzy Sikorski as Business Development Director for the region. Sikorski, with over a decade of experience in 20th- and 21st-century Middle Eastern art, will oversee strategic client development and sourcing, supporting both global sales and private initiatives from her base in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.