RIYADH: The Visual Arts Commission has announced the curatorial team for the inaugural Art Week Riyadh, scheduled to take place from April 6 to 13 under the theme “At the Edge.”
The team includes artistic director and curator Vittoria Matarrese, associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, and public program curator Shumon Basar.
Matarrese, a former director at the Bally Foundation in Switzerland and the performing arts department at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, expressed her enthusiasm for the event. She emphasized that Art Week Riyadh offers an exceptional opportunity to engage with a city and region undergoing significant cultural transformation, where tradition and acceleration evolve together.
Harasani highlighted that the event showcases Saudi Arabia’s progress in becoming a major player in the global cultural narrative, all while preserving its authenticity.
The event will take place at Riyadh’s Jax district, featuring a curated selection of artworks from over 30 local, regional, and international galleries and collections. Additionally, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and special events will take place, designed to highlight Riyadh’s cultural vitality and its growing global influence.
Gandit Lelandais, a contemporary art specialist from the Arab world, noted that the existence of Art Week Riyadh reflects a clear vision to foster growth in the art ecosystem, with galleries, artists, institutions, and collectors contributing to a thriving cultural environment.
Basar added that Art Week Riyadh offers a platform to reflect on the artistic developments in Riyadh, the Kingdom, and the region, while fostering dialogues with global conversations in an increasingly multipolar world.
