Abdulnasser Gharem Unveils The Arts Tower in Riyadh, Reflecting Saudi Transformation

Abdulnasser Gharem, born in 1973 in Khamis Mushait, is a conceptual artist and a former lieutenant colonel in the Saudi army. He has recently introduced The Arts Tower (2025), a significant public art initiative located on Riyadh's Sports Boulevard. His interdisciplinary work, which engages with social themes, has been showcased internationally at venues such as the Martin Gropius-Bau in Berlin, LACMA in Los Angeles, the British Museum, and the V&A in London, in addition to being featured in the Venice, Sharjah, and Berlin Biennales. Gharem describes the tower as a cultural symbol inspired by practical electric pylons, representing Saudi Arabia's shift from oil dependency and reflecting his artistic response to societal changes. This initiative coincides with the nation’s objectives to diversify its economy beyond energy.