Sotheby’s is poised to hold its second auction in Saudi Arabia, building on a triumphant debut in February that saw $17.3 million in sales and signaled growing demand for art and cultural investment in the Kingdom [[1]]. The upcoming “Origins” auction, set to take place in Diriyah, will feature a diverse range of works-from international masters like picasso and Warhol to rising Saudi artists-reflecting the nation’s aspiring Vision 2030 plan to bolster its arts and tourism sectors. The auction house reports strong interest across generations, indicating a broadening collector base in the region.
Sotheby’s officially established a presence in Saudi Arabia late last year, opening a new office in Riyadh, paving the way for the kingdom’s first international auction. The event, held in the historic city of Diriyah in February, featured a diverse collection of valuable artworks, AI-generated art, luxury handbags, and sports memorabilia, bringing in a total of $17.3 million. According to news.artnet, roughly one-third of the buyers were from Saudi Arabia.
Next Auction to Feature 70 Works by Saudi and International Artists
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“Our first sale in February was a significant learning moment for us,” said Ashkan Baghestani, Head of Sales at Sotheby’s. “The range of prices was key, helping us better understand the price points where clients feel most comfortable transacting. Perhaps most exciting was the diversity of the audience – we saw strong participation from across generations.”
The upcoming auction, also titled “Origins,” will heavily focus on art, showcasing over 70 works by prominent Saudi and Middle Eastern artists alongside internationally recognized names. The auction house’s expansion into Saudi Arabia reflects the growing interest in art and culture within the region.
Picasso Painting to Headline Auction
A 1965 painting by Pablo Picasso, “Landscape,” is set to be the auction’s star offering. Created during the artist’s later years on cardboard, the piece depicts the flattened landscape of the French Riviera, where Picasso spent his final decade with his wife, Jacqueline Roque. It’s estimated to fetch between $2 million and $3 million.
Also featured will be a work from Jean Dubuffet’s desert series. In the late 1940s, Dubuffet traveled deep into the Sahara Desert seeking new inspiration, resulting in pieces like “Sun Without Color” (1947). The painting portrays white-skinned Bedouin figures and camels against a dark brown background and is estimated to be worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
Pop art also joins the lineup. Following the death of Dorothy Lichtenstein in 2024, Sotheby’s has been gradually selling her extensive collection of works by her husband, Roy, generating $120 million. In Diriyah, two pieces will be presented: “Interior with Ajax (Study)” (1997), depicting the famous Greek hero in a distinctive interior setting, estimated at $600,000 to $800,000; and “Flag Head of the Great Pyramid (Study)” (1997), valued between $150,000 and $200,000.
Andy Warhol Painting on Offer
Andy Warhol’s “Disturbing Muses (after de Chirico)” (1982) will also be up for bid. The piece reimagines Giorgio de Chirico’s “The Disturbing Muses” (1917) using Warhol’s signature grid of varying colors. It’s estimated to be worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million. Additionally, Warhol’s set of four silk-screen prints of Muhammad Ali, inspired by a visit to the boxer’s training camp in rural Pennsylvania, are valued between $300,000 and $500,000.
Demand for Saudi Artists’ Work
Baghestani noted that a key takeaway from last year’s auction was the demand for contemporary Saudi artists.
As a result, the auction will open with a work by Mohammed Siam, who is participating in a public auction for the first time. Elsewhere, “A Rural Café on City Street” (1968) by Safia bin Zagr, who dedicated her long career to documenting Saudi architecture and traditions, will be presented, estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
“Demonstration” (1968), a realistic painting by Iraqi artist Mahmoud Sabri, portrays five women (and a group) in various states of mourning, and is estimated to be worth between $400,000 and $500,000. “Untitled” (1989), a semi-abstract work by Mohammed Al Saleem, depicting sand gradients and heat, is valued between $150,000 and $200,000. And “Copper” (1976), portraying copper in colorful horizontal lines, is by Samia Halaby, considered the most famous living Palestinian artist, who will participate in the 2026 Whitney Biennial, and is estimated at $120,000 to $180,000.
The “Origins” exhibition is timed to coincide with the opening of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and is linked to the Saudi Vision 2030 campaign, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil and develop the arts, culture, and tourism sectors.
