In Riyadh & Bayadh, Saudi artist Ghada Almuhammadi reinterprets the visual language of classical Islamic miniature painting through a contemporary lens. The central figure reclines gracefully within a richly ornamented composition, her pose both languid and introspective. The artist’s meticulous brushwork, gilded motifs, and stylized patterns evoke the opulence of manuscript illumination while situating the subject in a modern dialogue about identity, beauty, and heritage.

Beneath the figure, the work transitions through layers of patterned paper and handwritten Arabic script—elements that bridge historical aesthetics with personal narrative. The calligraphic fragment, rendered on aged parchment, adds a poetic dimension, suggesting the endurance of memory and the continuity of cultural expression.

Almuhammadi’s work resonates with themes of female presence, nostalgia, and cross-cultural influence, offering a visual meditation on how stories and symbols from the past can be reclaimed to articulate the complexities of contemporary Saudi identity.