MOHAMMED AL SALEEM

Early Years

Al Saleem was born in 1939 in Marat, a historic town in the central region of Saudi Arabia, approximately one hour from Riyadh. He received his primary education in his hometown, where he demonstrated exceptional drawing skills from an early age.

At the age of 20, Al Saleem was hired as an art education teacher in 1958. He later became one of the first Saudis to pursue formal arts education abroad, graduating from the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, in 1973.

Mohammed Al Saleem Artworks

Mohammed Al Saleem created thickly impastoed oil paintings that fuse abstract and figurative techniques, developing a distinctive style he termed ‘Horizonism’—inspired by the desert landscapes and skyline of Riyadh—which harmonises Arabic calligraphy with subtle colour palettes and meditative compositions.

Early Works (1960s)

Al Saleem’s early paintings addressed local subjects in a direct manner, showing influences from Neo-Impressionist Edmond Cross and his experimentation with broad, block brushstrokes. A rare untitled work from 1960 demonstrates his emerging interest in combining landscape, calligraphy, and abstract elements.

‘Allah’ (c. 1970s)

This historic work exemplifies Al Saleem’s desert landscape technique during his early experiments with Horizonism. The word ‘Allah’ is drawn within the central composition, its curved elements corresponding to the flowing rhythm of the desert landscape. It was first exhibited at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh.

Mature Horizonism Works (1980s–1990s)

Al Saleem’s mature style features encrusted, richly textured striations of glossy dark pigment, creating almost three-dimensional surfaces with extraordinary depth. His 1986 work inspired by the Riyadh skyline achieved $1.1 million at Sotheby’s London in October 2023, making him the first Saudi artist to exceed $1 million at auction.

‘Bi nur al-iman, nara al-s’adah’ (In the Light of Faith, We See Happiness) (1990)

This work demonstrates Al Saleem’s distinctive use of abstract layers of colour and an unusual painted frame dividing the canvas into quarters. It sold for £630,000 at Christie’s in 2024, more than twice its high estimate.

Select Awards and Accolades

• First Saudi artist to exceed $1 million at auction (October 2023)
• Established Saudi Arts House and Riyadh International Gallery for Fine Arts
• First solo exhibition in Riyadh at Alnaser Sport Club (1967)

Mohammed Al Saleem Exhibitions

Below is a selection of important exhibitions and auctions featuring the work of Mohammad Al Saleem.

• Origins II, Sotheby’s, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia (2026)
• Christie’s 20th Century Art/Middle East, London (2024)
• Sotheby’s 20th Century Art/Middle East, London (2023)
• Sotheby’s 20th Century Art/Middle East, London (2019)
• Institute of Public Administration, Riyadh (1970s)
• First solo exhibition, Alnaser Sport Club, Riyadh (1967)

Mohammed Al Saleem FAQs

Ocula | 2026