Riyadh Art Adds Seven Monumental Sculptures by Saudi Artist Mohammed Al Saleem to Its Permanent Collection

Riyadh Art has announced the addition of seven monumental sculptures by pioneering Saudi artist Mohammed Al Saleem to its permanent collection of public art. Six of the works have been installed at Western Station on Riyadh Metro‘s Orange Line (Line 3), with the seventh scheduled for installation at a later date. The sculptures bring an important body of Al Saleem’s work to the city for which they were originally conceived.

Created in 1985 for a public art competition organized by Riyadh Municipality, the seven sculptures were never installed and remained in Al Saleem’s workshop for decades. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) acquired the works in 2022 and undertook their restoration and conservation under the supervision of the artist’s daughter, Najla Mohammed Al Saleem, and Al Saleem’s foundation, Dar Al-Funoon Al-Sa’udiyyah, to preserve his original artistic vision.

The six sculptures installed in August are Al Showkah Al Khumasiyah (The Pentagon Thorn), Shurfa (Parapet Merlon), Al Kurah (The Ball), Al Mouthalathat (The Triangles), Bur’aum Al Zahrah (The Flower Bud), and Al Ahilla (The Crescents). The seventh, Al Nafourah Al Halazouniyah (The Spiral Fountain), is scheduled for installation at a later date. Drawing inspiration from desert landscapes, Najdi architecture, geometric forms, and celestial imagery, the sculptures reflect Al Saleem’s distinctive approach to abstraction and the influence of Riyadh and Najd on his artistic practice.

Designed by Saudi-based architecture and engineering consultancy Omrania, Western Station draws on the forms of desert sand dunes, with earth-toned structures that frame its entrances, admit natural light, and provide shade for pedestrians. Installed in the station’s outdoor plaza, the sculptures carry these references into a contemporary public setting shaped by the movement of people through the city. Their permanent installation fulfills their original purpose as public artworks in Riyadh, more than four decades after they were conceived.

“Mohammed Al Saleem is a major figure in the history of modern Saudi art, and his work is deeply rooted in Riyadh and the landscape and architecture of Najd,” said Bader AlShenaifi, Senior Director of Riyadh Art. “Bringing these sculptures into Riyadh Art’s permanent collection preserves an important part of Saudi Arabia’s artistic heritage and gives his work a lasting place in the public life of the city that inspired much of his art.”

The sculptures join Riyadh Art’s permanent collection of public artworks, displayed across neighborhoods, public spaces, and major transport corridors throughout the capital. The collection now comprises 82 artworks.