Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium: How Riyadh Cemented Its Presence on the Global Open-Air Sculpture Map

Over seven consecutive editions, the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium has cemented Riyadh’s position as one of the cities that embrace open-air sculpture as a living cultural practice, where the creative process intersects with daily life and artwork is experienced as an evolving journey rather than a final product isolated from its context.
 The symposium is based on the concept of “live sculpture,” a model known in several global experiences, in which artworks are produced in public spaces and audiences are able to follow the stages of execution and artistic decision-making in real time. The Riyadh experience, however, has gained its distinctiveness through continuity, urban integration, and the expansion of its audience base, giving it a character that differs from many temporary or limited-scope initiatives.
 Since its launch in 2019, the symposium has hosted more than 170 artists from the Kingdom and various countries around the world. The artists worked in a shared environment, using similar materials and engaging with a diverse daily audience, enabling genuine cross-cultural artistic dialogue rooted in shared practice rather than theoretical discourse.
 This cumulative experience has contributed to building a clear identity for the symposium and to strengthening the confidence of artists and international cultural institutions in Riyadh’s ability to host open and sustainable artistic initiatives.
 The strength of the symposium lies in the fact that it is not presented merely as a seasonal event, but as part of a long-term cultural trajectory. Artworks are later integrated into the urban environment, becoming part of the city’s visual landscape and collective memory. In this way, art is transformed from a fleeting event into a lasting urban presence, rediscovered over time as its relationship with the public evolves alongside the city itself.
 This year’s edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium is held under the theme “Traces of What Will Be,” expressing transformation as the essence of the experience and highlighting art’s ability to anticipate the future through its presence in the present.
 The Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium is one of the main initiatives of the Riyadh Art Program, affiliated with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, which aims to enhance the presence of art in public spaces, improve quality of life, and support the creative economy.