Alia Ahmad (b. 1996, Riyadh, KSA) is a contemporary Saudi artist whose paintings explore themes of memory, change, and belonging. Rooted in her native Riyadh, Ahmad blends Saudi heritage with digital aesthetics, navigating the intersection between tradition and modernity. Ahmad’s expressionistic work combines vibrant colour with abstraction, creating symbolic representations of her surroundings. Drawing inspiration from Riyadh’s desert environment, her art merges influences from calligraphy and textiles with contemporary expression. Her use of oil paints, pastel, and ink evokes the diverse flora of the desert while incorporating flattened, digital-inspired perspectives. Having studied Digital Culture at King’s College London, Ahmad’s paintings reflect her engagement with both the physical and cultural landscapes of her city. Her work engages with Bedouin temporalities, blending environmental and cultural elements to create a dialogue between tradition and innovation in contemporary Saudi Arabia.
