Saudi Arabia Celebrates Its Heritage With First Islamic Arts Biennale

The inaugural edition of the Islamic Art Biennale is set to take place in the cultural hub of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Showcasing an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary pieces. Running from January 23rd to April 23rd at the state-of-the-art Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport, the event aims to provide a thought-provoking comparison and contrast between cutting-edge works and a curated collection of historical artefacts.

Featuring over 60 internationally-acclaimed artists, the exhibition's scenography has been designed by OMA, a prominent international firm known for its expertise in architecture and urbanism.

The Biennale will be curated by a panel of distinguished experts, including Sumayya Vally, Dr. Julian Raby, Dr. Saad Al-Rashid, and Dr. Omniya Abdel Barr, all of whom will be guided by the overarching theme of ‘Awwal Bait,’ meaning ‘the first house’ in Arabic.