Saudi modern art pioneer Safeya Binzagr has set a new benchmark for the Kingdom, as her 1968 painting Coffee Shop in Madina Road sold for $2.1 million at Sotheby’s “Origins II” auction in Riyadh- the highest price ever achieved by a Saudi artist at auction.
The painting, which sold for $1.65 million before buyer fees, exceeded pre-sale expectations and is now counted among the most valuable works by an Arab artist sold publicly. The result also surpassed the hammer price achieved by Pablo Picasso’s Paysage at the same sale, reflecting the growing international interest in Saudi modern art.
Sotheby’s Riyadh event featured 62 lots of modern and contemporary art, bringing together Saudi, regional, and international artists. Collectors from over 40 countries participated, and all nine Saudi works offered were sold, generating a total of $4.3 million. The auction overall reached $19.6 million, contributing to a combined total of over $32 million for the Kingdom’s two “Origins” sales.
The auction coincided with the Contemporary Art Biennale in Riyadh, highlighting the city’s emergence as a significant destination for modern and contemporary art in the Middle East. International artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Anish Kapoor also sold works, underscoring Riyadh’s growing presence on the global art stage.
Safeya Binzagr, who passed away in 2024, is celebrated for documenting everyday life, local architecture, and cultural heritage in Saudi Arabia. Her work, now commanding attention from collectors worldwide, represents a turning point for the Kingdom’s art market, bringing recognition to the country’s pioneering modern artists.
