Jeddah’s art scene is experiencing a dynamic transformation, extending far beyond the Islamic Arts Biennale, the city’s most prominent cultural event. Situated along the Red Sea, Jeddah has become a hub for contemporary art, with an increasing number of spaces dedicated to fostering connections between local artists and the global art world. ATHR Gallery, Hafez Gallery, and Hayy Jameel are among the most influential spaces shaping the city's artistic landscape, working together to foster a cohesive and locally rooted art ecosystem. Sotheby’s recent launch of its first dedicated auction in Saudi Arabia further underscores the Kingdom’s growing prominence as a centre for contemporary artistic expression.

Hayy Jameel: A Hub for Contemporary Art and Innovation

At the heart of Jeddah’s creative transformation is Hayy Jameel, a multidisciplinary arts complex that embodies the city’s evolving cultural identity. Opened in 2021 by Art Jameel, the space serves as a home for contemporary art, film, design, and education.

“The vision was to create a true home for Saudi’s creative community, bringing together a wide range of disciplines in one space,” explains Antonia Carver, Director at Art Jameel. Designed by award-winning architects waiwai, Hayy Jameel takes inspiration from the Arabic word hayy, meaning “neighbourhood” reflecting its collaborative spirit. The complex includes a contemporary art museum, an education platform, artist studios, and Hayy Cinema, Saudi Arabia’s first independent audio-visual centre. An upcoming initiative, Hayy Makers, will introduce workshops in woodworking, pottery, photography, and audiovisual production. “We aim to provide artists with access to world-class research, mentorship, and exhibition platforms,” says Carver.

Audience engagement is also a key focus. “We take outreach seriously, working with schools, universities, and businesses to make art accessible to all,” Carver adds. “Jeddah’s audiences are incredibly curious and open to fresh ideas, making this an exciting moment for cultural growth.” Passing by Hayy Jameel this year, one encounters a vibrant facade by artist Ashraf Abdullah. His first institutional commission, Messages from the Road, draws inspiration from the truck art tradition, an artistic movement pioneered by South Asian truck drivers to personalise their vehicles, break the monotony of work, and stay connected to home. Often adorned with Islamic calligraphy, prayers, and poetic phrases, these inscriptions link physical journeys to spiritual ones.

Collaborating with Saudi truck-art communities, Abdullah revives this fading tradition, transforming both trucks and the once minimalistic facade of the centre into striking works of art.

ATHR Gallery: A Fusion of Past and Future

One of Saudi Arabia’s leading contemporary art spaces, ATHR Gallery serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity. Its exhibitions reflect the evolving narratives of the region, tackling themes of identity, culture, and spirituality. A standout exhibition, A Muslim Man by Rami Farook, challenges stereotypes of Muslim men

through striking portraits and intimate vignettes. Farook’s work emphasises the diversity of Muslim identities, breaking away from monolithic representations. “Muslim men, like individuals from any other group, are diverse and cannot be generalised based on religion alone,” he explains. Walking through the Al-Balad in Jeddah and engaging with the local community and men reveals a deep sense of warmth, understanding, and sensitivity among its people.

ATHR Gallery serves as a platform for experimental and conceptual art, showcasing artists who challenge contemporary boundaries. During the Islamic Arts Biennale, it also reinforced its commitment to inclusivity by hosting free-entry event with live music, creating an open and welcoming space for all. In doing so, ATHR made a
powerful statement against gatekeeping in the art world, fostering accessibility and community engagement.

Hafez Gallery: Exploring Memory, Identity, and Belonging

Hafez Gallery is another pivotal space in Jeddah’s contemporary art scene, known for exhibitions that explore deeply personal and cultural themes. One of its recent showcases, Homes of Memory, delves into concepts of belonging and emotional ties between past and present homes. The exhibition, spearheaded by artist Bashaer
Hawsawi, reflects her personal journey of reconciling heritage with contemporary life.

Hawsawi’s work reflects her upbringing in Makkah and Jeddah, where the rituals of Hajj and Umrah shaped her artistic vision. At the Biennale, her piece My Gift to You is a Garden Behind Sean, displayed beneath the canopy of the Western Hajj Terminal, a historic gateway for pilgrims, reinterprets these spiritual journeys. She
incorporates textiles from Al-Balad market, sourced from China, India, and Africa, symbolising cultural intersections, spirituality, and purification. Through a mixed-media approach, Hawsawi weaves nostalgia with presence, creating works that evoke both collective memory and personal experience.

During the visit, one can explore the studio of Abdelrahman Elshahed, an artist, calligrapher, and architect with a background in Islamic architecture. Elshahed reflects on the deep cultural significance of Arabic calligraphy. In one of his works he quotes "our story with Arabic calligraphy is a story of civilization, heritage, culture,
and life,” highlighting one of the oldest Arabic scripts, known as Al-Makki Madani, Al-Hijazi, or Al-Mashq, originating in Mecca and serving as the foundation for all subsequent Arabic scripts.

He reinterprets calligraphy through a contemporary lens, often creating monumental installations that merge tradition with modernity. One such work, Letters Garden (2022), exhibited at Hafez Gallery, transforms throughout the day, its sculptural forms casting intricate shadows on the ground before illuminating at night with neon
light. By elevating everyday letters into dynamic, floating forms, Elshahed invites viewers to see the overlooked beauty of script, bridging heritage with innovation.

Jeddah has emerged as a city where creativity flourishes within a dynamic and collaborative community. Its evolving art scene is not only a reflection of individual talent but also of collective effort, with artists, curators, and cultural institutions working in unison to shape its future. As Antonia Carver, Director at Art Jameel, notes: “It’s a real moment of renewal for culture in Saudi Arabia, with strong support from government, NGOs, and the commercial sector driving this incredible rebirth.” This synergy is driving a transformative period in Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, marking a significant shift toward global artistic engagement.

^{Cover image: Air Temperature by Lucia Koch, Islamic Arts Biennale 2025. Photography by Michalina Franasik.}