Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025 – Art Exhibition 4–6 November 2025 | Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh

Empowering Female Creativity: An International Art Exhibition at the Creative Women Forum

An inspiring exhibition featuring award-winning female artists and craftswomen premiered during the second edition of the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Noura Bint Saud Bin Naif Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. The exhibition was warmly received, attracting widespread admiration from visitors for its creativity, diversity, and celebration of female talent.

Curated by internationally recognised architect, designer, and art curator Rafael Porzycki, the exhibition supported Herfah, a Riyadh-based organisation preserving and promoting traditional crafts.

The exhibition also featured artists from the Turquoise Mountain project, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Saudi Arabia this year. The initiative, inspired by the Ministry of Culture’s “Year of Handicrafts,” brought together painters, sculptors, digital artists, and artisans who reflected the Forum’s themes of female empowerment, sustainability, and cultural heritage.

This initiative was made possible through the vision and support of the Forum’s Patron, with logistical assistance from DHL Saudi Arabia, which enabled the transport of artworks from across the globe. A selection of the exhibited works was also showcased at the National Museum during the final Gala & Awards Ceremony, providing attendees a chance to experience highlights of the exhibition in a prestigious setting.

Featured Artists

Visual Artists

• Aida Murad (Jordan) – Known for expressive finger paintings that explore healing, empathy, and emotional resilience.
• Abeer Alkhlaifah (Saudi Arabia) – Draws inspiration from nature, reflecting harmony between humanity and environment.
• Saule Suleimenova (Kazakhstan) – Works with recycled materials to explore memory, identity, and social change.
• Noorah Aldossary (Saudi Arabia) – Visual artist and photographer focused on themes of place, memory, and cultural identity.
• Sofia Cacciapaglia (Italy) – Creates immersive pieces using recycled cardboard and paper, touching on femininity and environmental themes.

Craftswomen & Sculptors

• Elisa Insua (Argentina) – Uses discarded materials in vibrant sculptures highlighting overconsumption and waste.
• Andrea Vinkovic (Croatia) – Ceramic artist inspired by organic forms and cultural symbolism.
• Fatimah Al Nimr (Saudi Arabia) – Blends Saudi heritage with contemporary mixed media; her art centres on women’s stories.
• Catherine Coady (Australia) – Explores body image, consumerism, and pharmaceutical dependency through sculpture and painting.
• Elysia Athanatos (UK-Cyprus) – Creates refined ceramic vessels that explore light, memory, and form.
• Naqsh Collective (Jordan) – Founded by sisters Nisreen and Nermeen Abudail, blending Arabic design traditions with contemporary materials.
• Sally Smith (New Zealand) – Works with bronze and aluminium, often drawing on natural and negative/positive spatial themes.
• Olivia d’Aboville (France-Philippines) – Uses natural and recycled fibres to comment on ocean conservation and environmental fragility.
• Sarah Mohanna Al Abdali (Saudi Arabia) – A leading voice in Saudi street art, combining traditional motifs with urban commentary.
• Savi (Japan/UK) – Sculptural artist creating contemporary armour-inspired pieces rooted in Japanese tradition and ritual.

Digital Artists

• Selina Scerri (Malta) – Explores domesticity, AI, and symbolism through multimedia and digital illustration.
• Ekaterina Malakhova (Georgia) – Works with generative design and data to reflect on digital identity and collective behaviour.

Art with Purpose

The exhibition embodied the core themes of the Creative Women Forum 2025—female empowerment, sustainability, and creativity—by celebrating the excellence of women in art while contributing to a meaningful and lasting social impact and supporting local female artists through Herfah. Visitors responded with great enthusiasm, engaging deeply with the artworks and praising the exhibition for its innovative approach and inspiring curation.

Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025

The Forum will culminate in a spectacular Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at The National Museum in Riyadh, where Saudi culture and global excellence will converge in an evening of elegance, inspiration, and celebration.

At the helm of this initiative are: HRH Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif Al Saud – a cultural catalyst and champion of creative ecosystems, known for initiatives such as Rukun Creative Exchange and AlMashtal Creative Incubator; Olga Balakleets – an award-winning musician, global cultural advisor, entrepreneur, and Founder of the Creative Women International Platform; Rebeca Riofrio – Executive Director of the Saudi Arabia edition, a London-based cultural strategist and Queen’s Award recipient recognized for building cross-sector partnerships between the UK and GCC regions.

Following a highly successful 2024 debut—which garnered over 900 international media features and achieved a reach exceeding 50 million—the 2025 Forum is set to expand its global influence and foster deeper policy-level dialogue, attracting key stakeholders from government, academia, the creative industries, and international enterprise.

The Art Exhibition was an art initiative by the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia, taking place from 4–6 November 2025 at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, under the royal patronage of HRH Princess Noura Bint Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In partnership with the Women’s Leadership Centre, that year’s Forum was held under the theme “Empower • Engage • Sustain – Women Leading Initiatives.” It brought together over 500 global delegates, visionary entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders from business, academia, science, the arts, and government to explore creativity, sustainability, and leadership in an evolving world.

The Forum culminated in a spectacular Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at The National Museum in Riyadh, where Saudi culture and global excellence converged in an evening of elegance, inspiration, and celebration.

At the helm of this initiative were: HRH Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif Al Saud – a cultural catalyst and champion of creative ecosystems, known for initiatives such as Rukun Creative Exchange and AlMashtal Creative Incubator; Olga Balakleets – an award-winning musician, global cultural advisor, entrepreneur, and Founder of the Creative Women International Platform; Rebeca Riofrio – Executive Director of the Saudi Arabia edition, a London-based cultural strategist and Queen’s Award recipient recognized for building cross-sector partnerships between the UK and GCC regions.

Following a highly successful 2024 debut—which garnered over 900 international media features and achieved a reach exceeding 50 million—the 2025 Forum expanded its global influence and fostered deeper policy-level dialogue, attracting key stakeholders from government, academia, the creative industries, and international enterprise.

📅 Dates: 4–6 November 2025

📍 Venue: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh

🎟️ Gala Dinner: 6 November 2025 – The National Museum, Riyadh