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RIYADH: Submissions for the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 began on Wednesday and will continue until Sept. 17, the Riyadh Art program has announced. 

Themed “Traces of What Will Be,” the symposium invites sculptors from around the world to submit proposals for the seventh internationally acclaimed event. 

The symposium, held in January next year, will once again turn Riyadh into a dynamic hub for public art, creativity and cross-cultural exchange.

The open call invites submissions from artists interested in participating in a live sculpting experience on-site in Riyadh, culminating in a public exhibition.

Twenty-five artists will be selected to produce original works that will be permanently installed across the capital, enriching the city’s expanding public art collection.

This event also introduces the following sculpting categories in line with Riyadh Art’s evolving vision: Granite, stainless-steel integration and reclaimed metal. 

Sarah Alruwayti, director of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, said: “Tuwaiq Sculpture invites artists from around the world to leave a lasting mark on Riyadh’s evolving urban landscape. Each edition builds on a growing legacy that connects communities through public art.”

Since its inception, Tuwaiq Sculpture has welcomed more than 150 artists, whose works now form part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection— including a significant installation of 35 pieces at King Abdulaziz Historical Center. 

The initiative continues to shape Riyadh’s global identity as a capital of creativity, civic engagement and cultural innovation.

Riyadh Art is one of Riyadh’s four original mega projects under Vision 2030 and is led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. 

Launched in 2019, it was developed to catalyze the capital’s transformation, enrich lives, and encourage creative expression and cross-cultural dialogue through art.

Art and culture are essential to the identity of a city, and the Riyadh Art initiative was established to reflect the openness and accessibility of the capital’s growing creative landscape; where the exchange of ideas through artistic practice contributes to a deeper and more inclusive cultural identity.

Riyadh Art aims to have a positive impact on people, bringing everyday moments of joy to residents and visitors alike, while instilling a greater sense of civic pride and creating a more beautiful city for everyone to enjoy. It also supports the growth of the creative economy and contributes to attracting investment and talent to Riyadh.

Mohammed Al-Saawy, founder and director of ERRM Art Gallery, said that the art of sculpture in the Kingdom of �������� had seen an unprecedented qualitative boom in recent years, commenting on the activities of the Sculpture Forum.

Al-Saawy told Arab News: “Sculpture in �������� has witnessed a qualitative and positive shift in recent years, and this forum reflects the vitality of the Kingdom’s creative scene. 

“It attracts the most prominent local, Arab, and international sculptors of diverse ages and experiences, creating a rich artistic dialogue that combines the wisdom of experience with the energy of youth.”

Al-Saawy added: “The forum’s role is not limited to displaying works alone; it also adds a deeper dimension to the sculpture profession. This is part of a larger program and strategic direction undertaken by the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh to beautify the Saudi capital and its cities with sophisticated artistic content, contributing to shaping a sophisticated visual identity for the cities.”

“This type of fine art contributes to documenting community culture and presenting it to intellectuals in the local and global community,” he said. “We are confident that this forum will have positive repercussions and leave a lasting impression, contributing to the advancement of Saudi sculptors, both male and female, and extending their creativity to global horizons.” 

DUBAI: Auction house Sotheby’s is set to host a program of auctions, panel discussions and exhibitions in the UAE’s capital during Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week in December.

Set to run from Dec. 2-5, the series of auctions will include jewelry, rare timepieces, collectors’ cars and real estate from RM Sotheby’s, and Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions, alongside a museum-quality exhibition of international fine art.

Prior to the opening in Abu Dhabi, sale highlights will travel to Sotheby’s international locations to be presented to global collectors.

Josh Pullan, the head of Sotheby’s Global Luxury Division, said: “The week will be anchored by a single-owner collection replete with top-quality jewelry and watches, alongside unparalleled automobiles.”

The auction week will take place alongside the Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, with RM Sotheby’s marking the occasion by collaborating with McLaren Racing to offer a trio of competition cars representing the team’s racing portfolio.

The “Triple Crown” project gives the opportunity to purchase three competition chassis, including a 2026 McLaren F1 Team car, a 2027 McLaren United AS racer from the World Endurance Championship, and a 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team Indianapolis 500 race-driven vehicle. The cars will go under the hammer on Dec. 5.

A 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera (estimate $9.5 million to $10.5 million) and a rare 2010 Aston Martin One-77 ($1.3 million to $1.6 million) are also being sold.

Leading the jewelry auction is The Desert Rose, the largest fancy vivid orangy pink diamond ever graded. Weighing 31.86 carats, the pear-shaped diamond radiates a sunset-like blend of pink and orange and will make its auction debut with an estimate of $5 million to $7 million.

Among the timepieces is a rare Rolex “Oyster Albino” Daytona. Produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this variant breaks from the standard Cosmograph Daytona aesthetic, which typically features contrasting sub-dials. Instead, the Albino is defined by its monochromatic silver dial and subsidiary registers. The timepiece carries an estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.