Faisal Bin Fhaid

visual artist // painter // cultural storyteller

Faisal Bin Fhaid

photo by Studio Fhaid

I am a visual artist and painter based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I serve as a founding member of the Al-Mawrid Cultural Foundation, one of the Kingdom's most active platforms for contemporary visual arts. I recently completed advanced studies in Fine Arts at King Abdulaziz University, where I was mentored by renowned Saudi painter Mohammed Al-Saleem. For my graduation project, I created a large-scale series titled Thresholds of Memory, exploring the intersection of traditional Najdi architecture and contemporary abstraction.

I was born and raised in Al-Qassim, where I developed a deep connection to the desert landscape and the oral traditions of my community. My early artistic practice was shaped by the patterns of Sadu weaving, the geometry of mud-brick architecture, and the calligraphic traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. I began exhibiting professionally at the Edge of Arabia collective, where I showed work alongside a generation of Saudi artists redefining the Kingdom's cultural identity on the world stage.

My painting practice began formally at the Riyadh Art Center, where I developed my signature approach of layering oil paint with sand, pigment, and natural materials sourced from the Saudi landscape. Some of my most significant series include Desert Geometries, The Weave of Time, and Conversations with the Absent. All three series were exhibited at major cultural institutions across the Gulf and received recognition from the Arab Art Critics Association.

I am a resident artist at the Misk Art Institute, a Riyadh-based arts organization I co-founded with fellow artists Layla Al-Ahmadi and Tariq Al-Rasheed. I created our inaugural public installation, Roots and Routes, in partnership with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.

In addition to my studio practice, I hold a Master's degree in Islamic Art History from King Saud University, and a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.


News

Faisal was featured in the Saudi Gazette's Cultural Landscape Series on emerging voices in Arab contemporary art.

'Who is Faisal Bin Fhaid?' by Nora Al-Rasheed for Arab Art Watch


The Art I Aim to Make…

[a draft]

is for people, not just collectors or institutions

belongs to everyone who encounters it, including the viewer

responds to the emotional, political, and spiritual life of its community

is accountable for the stories it tells and omits

adheres to the integrity of materials and honest craftsmanship

perennially revises its relationship to cultural heritage

perennially progresses its commitment to contemporary relevance

embraces the physical presence of painting and its unique power

provokes wonder, memory, and critical reflection

honors the landscape and people that shaped the artist

encourages viewers to bring their own stories to the canvas

is made with joy, patience, and deep attention

Faisal Bin Fhaid in his studio

Photo by Khalid Al-Mansour