Beyond the art world, Sotheby’s has evolved into a globally-recognised luxury brand, having successfully managed their expansion into The Middle East. Based around an organic understanding of the lifestyle and identity of luxury clientele in the region, the auction house’s vision to promote access to and ownership of remarkable art and luxury objects is now coming full circle. Sotheby’s inaugural auction in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is happening this February and will be complemented by the opening of an office in Riyadh landmark Al Faisaliah Tower – the first skyscraper built in the country and designed by Norman Foster. The move marks an important milestone in Sotheby’s continued and long-term commitment to the Gulf region.
As a key influence in the global art and luxury market, Sotheby’s currently has 80 offices in 40 countries and several private sales galleries including London, Dubai, New York, Paris, and Hong Kong. The auction house conducts around 250 auctions every year in over 70 different categories, and February 8th will mark Sotheby’s first international auction to take place in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Titled “Origins”, the landmark sale will be staged in the historic town of Diriyah, located on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Diriyah: A World-Class Cultural Hub
At the heart of the Kingdom’s transformation into a cultural epicentre, Diriyah serves as a cornerstone of national pride and identity for Saudis, with UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif at its core. Known as The City of Earth, Diriyah is deeply rooted in Saudi Arabia's past, present, and future. A place of exploration, discovery, and celebration, Diriyah inspires future generations to honour their ancestors' legacy, remaining deeply committed to conservation efforts and preserving the warmth and generosity of traditional Najdi culture and hospitality.
Once a small oasis settlement nestled in Al Awja, Diriyah bloomed into the capital of the first Saudi State and the ancestral home of the Al Saud family.
The City of Earth – and the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – hosts the Diriyah Season every year, treating visitors to a curated and unique three-month calendar of events replete with arts and culture, live performances, and outdoor activities that showcase nearly six hundred years of history and heritage of a region that shaped the destiny of empires far beyond the borders of the Arabian Peninsula.
How Sotheby’s Cemented its Foothold in The Kingdom
Sotheby’s support for The Kingdom goes back a long time – in 2013 the company hosted the first-ever highlights exhibition by any international auction house in Saudi Arabia. Sotheby’s continued to lend its contribution to the Kingdom, promoting a cultural ecosystem in the Gulf, with a tangible commitment to educational initiatives and diversifying cultural dialogue and artistic awareness. In 2017 Sotheby’s held its first-ever charity auction in KSA and participated in the Riyadh International Book Fair, as well as the country’s first Contemporary and Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah. Holding panel discussions, talks, and guided tours given by international specialists, the auction house shared its expertise and helped amplify the voices and visions of artists, fostering creativity and unity.
Reaffirming their commitment to promoting cultural dialogue, Sotheby’s partnered with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for its 2024 edition, with a series of talks and workshops, followed by the unveiling of Hafla, an unprecedented month-long exhibition at its galleries in London last year. A celebration of Middle Eastern culture, the event spanned art, jewellery, food, and fashion and spotlighted artists such as Dia Aziz Dia, Mohammed Al Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, and Dana Awartani, among others.
Origins
The venue for the upcoming Origins auction and exhibition in Diriyah could not be more symbolic. A historical place with great cultural significance, Diriyah is where the First Saudi State was formed just under two decades before Sotheby’s was established in 1744. The announcement came last year, on the back of Sotheby’s recent deal with the Abu Dhabi-based wealth fund ADQ, which delivered a $1 billion investment in the auction house. Origins will highlight artworks by Saudi artists as well as leading names in international art history. It will also showcase all that luxury encompasses, including jewellery, watches, cars, handbags, and sports memorabilia, providing a unique platform for the sale of museum-worthy examples of craftsmanship by major names in luxury and Fine Arts.
Artworks by famous Saudi artists will go under the hammer at Origins, including a diptych from Ahmed Mater’s The Illumination Series, one of his most recognisable works integrating art, science, and religion. Mater’s large-scale renditions of illuminated Qur’anic folios draw inspiration from Islamic arts and explore the theme of identity in the modern age. Another museum-worthy piece present at the auction is Damien Hirst’s Faithless, from his Kaleidoscope Paintings. A vivid mosaic of iridescent blues, reds, and yellows, Faithless was inspired by Victorian naturalists and ultimately prompted Hirst to arrange the butterflies in his mosaic artwork by colour.
A Cartier sapphire and diamond bracelet estimated to sell for $325,000 will be the central piece of the jewellery lot, signed and dated 1927. The bracelet features a geometric design with openwork panels and four cushion-cut sapphires, further set with old European baguette diamonds. Prior to the auction, all items from the inaugural Origins sale will be on display in a public exhibition running from the 1st to the 8th of February, with a week-long celebration of luxury, art, and culture.
Final Note
Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a cultural renaissance, with creativity and a rich artistic landscape at the heart of its future. Sotheby’s permanent base in The Kingdom will be transformative for the region and entirely in synergy with the government’s programme Vision 2030, aiming for social, and cultural diversity. The company’s presence in Riyadh will unite the region in a celebration of culture and luxury experiences, showcasing the auction house’s values and unique offerings in one of the most culturally significant locations in the Kingdom.
