Ithra has selected five artists from across the Arab world this week as winners of its seventh Art Prize, marking a significant shift in the format of one of the region’s most established contemporary art awards, according to Arab News.
Interestingly, Ithra will award production grants to all shortlisted artists for the first time with their new works debuting this spring in a dedicated exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran.
This shift stands as a testament to Ithra’s growing focus on elevating artistic production, moving beyond the tradition of naming a single winner.
The list includes the following artists:
- Aseel Al-Yaqoub of Kuwait
- Bady Dalloul of Syria
- Heba Y. Amin of Egypt
- Ala Younis of Jordan
- Jawad Al-Malhi of Palestine
“This year’s shortlist reflects the incredible diversity, creativity and critical thought shaping contemporary art in the Arab world. Expanding the shortlist to include five finalists aims to strengthen dialogue across cultures and generations, while reaffirming Ithra’s support for artists and their distinct artistic perspectives,” Farah Abushullaih, head of Ithra’s museum, said.
After traveling to cultural hubs such as Dubai, AlUla, and Riyadh in recent years, this year’s Ithra Art Prize exhibition will return home to Dhahran.
Ithra also said it has received over 500 submissions through an open call, which underwent a multi-stage review before selecting the final five.
The shortlisted projects feature a vast array of mediums and research-driven practices, addressing contemporary political, social, and historical questions across the Arab world.
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