Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026: Traces of What Will Be

Riyadh is once again preparing to welcome sculptors from across the globe with the announcement of Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 . The Open Call, which runs until October 1, 2025, invites artists to submit proposals for the seventh edition of the internationally renowned symposium. Under the theme Traces of What Will Be, the event will take place in January and February 2026, transforming the city into a vibrant center for artistic creation, dialogue, and exchange.

Over several weeks, twenty-five selected artists will shape monumental works live on-site in Riyadh. Their sculptures will later become part of the city’s permanent public art collection, further expanding the cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia’s capital. Since its beginning, Tuwaiq Sculpture has brought together more than 150 artists including several members of Sculpture Network whose works have already taken root across Riyadh, including a significant installation of 35 pieces at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.

Spanish sculptor Susana Botana, who joined in 2025, described her time in Riyadh as “an unforgettable experience.” She recalled how hundreds of people—artists and assistants of different ages and from all over the world—worked side by side with the shared goal of completing their sculptures within the allotted time. For her, the nature of working in stone in such a collective environment was transformative. “There is something truly beautiful about stone sculpture: you have to adapt to the rhythm of the machines, to your assistants, and even to the limits of your own body in order to move forward. That process humanizes an artistic practice that is normally so solitary and individual.” She emphasized the energy and passion that infused the entire event, from the director of Tuwaiq to the volunteers who supported the artists. Carving a piece taller than herself in the desert, trusting her assistants who became an integral part of her work, and meeting other women sculptors who also work with stone all stood out as extraordinary moments. For Botana, even visiting a Middle Eastern country for the first time carried a special significance. “Despite being far from home, the sense of community and family felt very similar to Spain.”

Berlin-based artist Birgit Cauer, who participated in 2025, also remembers the symposium with enthusiasm. “We were a wonderful group of colleagues from all over the world. Accommodation, catering, assistants, and support were excellent,” she said. Meeting Saudi colleagues and experiencing the collaborative spirit among everyone involved made her time in Riyadh especially meaningful. “I would go back anytime. I am grateful to have had even a small glimpse into such a very different culture.”

Swiss sculptor Bertha Shortiss, who participated in 2023, echoed that sense of discovery and connection. Traveling to Saudi Arabia and engaging with local artists left a deep impression on her. She recalled the exchange with assistants, the respect and friendliness that marked the collaboration, and the remarkable logistics of working on such a scale in granite. “The organization with works in this size in granite, the tools that were provided, the insight into the country’s projects and its nature—it was all extraordinary. And not least, the local food.”

The artists stressed that they would wholeheartedly recommend the symposium to colleagues. For Botana, in particular, the opportunity to reshape the language of stone sculpture feels urgent and necessary. “I have already recommended it to several artists—especially those who approach stone sculpture with dynamism, transformation, flexibility, and vulnerability. I believe it is vital for society’s growth to embrace different sensibilities and to renew the messages of stone sculpture, breaking down outdated stereotypes. It is urgent to update the aesthetics of stone in ways that resonate with our times if we want this art form to endure.”

In 2026, the symposium will be guided by a distinguished international curatorial team: Sarah Staton from the United Kingdom, Rut Blees Luxemburg from Germany, and Lulwah Al Homoud from Saudi Arabia. Together, they will lead the artistic selection and shape the direction of this edition, which also introduces two new sculpting categories—Granite + Stainless Steel Integration and Reclaimed Metal—reflecting the evolving vision of Riyadh Art.

As Tuwaiq Sculpture looks ahead to its seventh edition, it continues to stand as a meeting point between tradition and renewal, solitude and community, and local identity and global vision. For the twenty-five artists who will be chosen in the coming months, the symposium promises not only the chance to leave their mark on Riyadh’s growing collection of public art, but also to join a legacy of shared experiences that reach far beyond stone.

The Open Call remains open until October 1, 2025. Sculptors from around the world are invited to submit their proposals and become part of this extraordinary journey in Riyadh.

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