Global auction house Sotheby’s has announced its second auction in Saudi Arabia, set to take place on January 31, 2026, following the success of its inaugural sale earlier this year, the first international auction ever held in the Kingdom.
The upcoming sale, titled “Origins,” will feature works by leading Saudi and international artists, including Safeya Binzagr, Mohammed Al-Saleem, and Anish Kapoor. The exhibition will be open to the public for a week before the auction, offering visitors a rare opportunity to view the pieces free of charge. The exact venue will be announced soon.
Safeya Binzagr and the Artistic Legacy of Saudi Arabia
Among the highlights is Safeya Binzagr’s 1968 painting “Coffee Shop on Madina Road.” Born in Jeddah in 1940, Binzagr, who passed away in 2024, is widely regarded as the “spiritual mother” of contemporary Saudi art.
Her work captures the essence of the Kingdom’s traditions and local identity, often depicting cultural customs, attire, and everyday life. In recognition of her contributions, she received the King Abdulaziz Medal in 2017 for her role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural landscape.
Mohammed Al-Saleem: A Pioneer of Modern Saudi Art
The sale will also feature a 1989 untitled painting by Mohammed Al-Saleem, a pioneer of modern Saudi art and founder of the “Horizonism” style, inspired by the interplay of light and color in the Riyadh desert skyline.
Al-Saleem’s works have been shown in more than 30 solo exhibitions worldwide, and in 2023, one of his paintings achieved a record sale of $1.1 million at Sotheby’s London, the highest auction price ever for a Saudi artist.
International Highlights and the Growing Art Market
Joining the Saudi masters is Anish Kapoor, the Indian-born British sculptor and Turner Prize winner (1991), known globally for his monumental works exploring color, form, and perception. Kapoor’s participation underscores the growing global attention on the Saudi art scene and the Kingdom’s emergence as a cultural hub.
“Sotheby’s is proud to be shaping and expanding this vibrant market, bringing our global expertise and passion to the heart of the Middle East,” said Ashkan Baghestani, Sotheby’s Head of Sale and Contemporary Art Specialist.
Origins Sale Reinforces Saudi Arabia’s Global Cultural Profile
Sotheby’s inaugural “Origins” auction, held in Diriyah in February 2025, achieved $17 million in sales with bidders from 45 countries, nearly one-third of whom were based in Saudi Arabia.
The upcoming auction coincides with the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing cultural profile, and precedes the first-ever Art Basel Qatar, scheduled to run from February 5 to 7, 2026, in Doha.
Sotheby’s continues to play a key role in Saudi Arabia’s evolving art ecosystem, having supported the Kingdom’s first Contemporary Art Biennale in 2022 and the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah in 2023 and 2025.
With “Origins,” the auction house reaffirms its commitment to nurturing regional talent while connecting Saudi Arabia’s artistic heritage with the global contemporary art market.
