Abeer Sultan (B.1999, Riyadh, KSA) Lives and works in Riyadh.
In my artistic practice, I delve into themes of memory, decay, and preservation, exploring how these concepts manifest in both personal and collective narratives. My work often begins with the act of collecting—be it an image, a sound, or a mere colour—which serves as a foundational method in my research. This categorisation process of items is not just about documentation; it is a way to capture moments that resonate with me and to preserve them by creating new meanings for them.
Living in Riyadh, I am particularly drawn to the nuanced interplay between domestic and public spaces and having them played in parallel. My interest lies in the unseen and intimate gatherings within my childhood environments—rituals and interactions that are often overlooked yet deeply ingrained in my memory. Though not visible to the broader public, these private moments hold immense significance and inform my understanding of cultural identity and personal history. By re-staging these experiences through various mediums, such as video, photography, or a collage, I aim to bring attention to the layers of meaning embedded within them.
My works involve the natural world, such as dead palm trees, shells, soil, insects, etc. I also draw from diverse inspirations and influences, including Egyptian mythology, surrealism and post-colonial studies. This interplay of the real and the imagined fosters a space where I can express myself poetically and experience emotions that I would otherwise obscure.
My approach is creating narratives through sequences of film or series of photographs as a collage, reconfiguring them to form metaphorical and uncanny visual connections. Cutting and situating these images alongside text and sound is essential in creating an atmosphere by incorporating spoken word, poetry, or recorded conversations. This method allows for a fluid exploration of meaning, encouraging viewers to find their interpretations and connections.
In essence, my artistic practice seeks to question the politics of memory and identity, inviting an exploration of the invisible threads that connect us all. Through the lens of my experiences and the cultural context of Saudi Arabia, I aspire to create a dialogue about the complexities of existence, the weight of memory, and the beauty found in decay. By preserving these moments, I hope to foster a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and the transient nature of life itself.
︎abeer.mansultan[@]gmail.com
Education
2018 - 2021 ︎︎︎ BA in Graphic Design and Digital Media, Princess Noura University, Riyadh, KSA.
2024 - 2025 ︎︎︎ Diploma in Museum Studies, SOAS Universityy, London, UK x Effat University, Jeddah, KSA.
Group Exhibitions
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Strange Familiar, Familiar Strange’ Intermix x POUSH, Paris, France.
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘In The Night’ Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMOCA), Riyadh, KSA.
2023 - 2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Refracted Identities, Shared Futures’ Noor Riyadh Festival, Riyadh, KSA.
2022 - 2023 ︎︎︎ ‘Tales of Nostalgia Exhibition’ Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, KSA.
2022 ︎︎︎ ‘New Wave Exhibition’ Misk Art Institute x Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Residencies
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Intermix Art Residency’ POUSH, Paris, France
2023 ︎︎︎ ‘BAI Art Program’ Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany.
2022 ︎︎︎’Masaha Art Residency’ Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, KSA.
Awards
2020 ︎︎︎ ‘48 Hours Film Challange’ Red Sea Film Festival, Jeddah, KSA.
In my artistic practice, I delve into themes of memory, decay, and preservation, exploring how these concepts manifest in both personal and collective narratives. My work often begins with the act of collecting—be it an image, a sound, or a mere colour—which serves as a foundational method in my research. This categorisation process of items is not just about documentation; it is a way to capture moments that resonate with me and to preserve them by creating new meanings for them.
Living in Riyadh, I am particularly drawn to the nuanced interplay between domestic and public spaces and having them played in parallel. My interest lies in the unseen and intimate gatherings within my childhood environments—rituals and interactions that are often overlooked yet deeply ingrained in my memory. Though not visible to the broader public, these private moments hold immense significance and inform my understanding of cultural identity and personal history. By re-staging these experiences through various mediums, such as video, photography, or a collage, I aim to bring attention to the layers of meaning embedded within them.
My works involve the natural world, such as dead palm trees, shells, soil, insects, etc. I also draw from diverse inspirations and influences, including Egyptian mythology, surrealism and post-colonial studies. This interplay of the real and the imagined fosters a space where I can express myself poetically and experience emotions that I would otherwise obscure.
My approach is creating narratives through sequences of film or series of photographs as a collage, reconfiguring them to form metaphorical and uncanny visual connections. Cutting and situating these images alongside text and sound is essential in creating an atmosphere by incorporating spoken word, poetry, or recorded conversations. This method allows for a fluid exploration of meaning, encouraging viewers to find their interpretations and connections.
In essence, my artistic practice seeks to question the politics of memory and identity, inviting an exploration of the invisible threads that connect us all. Through the lens of my experiences and the cultural context of Saudi Arabia, I aspire to create a dialogue about the complexities of existence, the weight of memory, and the beauty found in decay. By preserving these moments, I hope to foster a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and the transient nature of life itself.
︎abeer.mansultan[@]gmail.com
Education
2018 - 2021 ︎︎︎ BA in Graphic Design and Digital Media, Princess Noura University, Riyadh, KSA.
2024 - 2025 ︎︎︎ Diploma in Museum Studies, SOAS Universityy, London, UK x Effat University, Jeddah, KSA.
Group Exhibitions
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Strange Familiar, Familiar Strange’ Intermix x POUSH, Paris, France.
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘In The Night’ Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMOCA), Riyadh, KSA.
2023 - 2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Refracted Identities, Shared Futures’ Noor Riyadh Festival, Riyadh, KSA.
2022 - 2023 ︎︎︎ ‘Tales of Nostalgia Exhibition’ Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, KSA.
2022 ︎︎︎ ‘New Wave Exhibition’ Misk Art Institute x Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Residencies
2024 ︎︎︎ ‘Intermix Art Residency’ POUSH, Paris, France
2023 ︎︎︎ ‘BAI Art Program’ Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany.
2022 ︎︎︎’Masaha Art Residency’ Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, KSA.
Awards
2020 ︎︎︎ ‘48 Hours Film Challange’ Red Sea Film Festival, Jeddah, KSA.
Art Assistant
2021 ︎︎︎ Art & Production Assistant, Basmah Felemban, Riyadh, KSA.
2023 - 2024 ︎︎︎ Studio Manager, Alia Ahmad, Riyadh, KSA.
Publications
2022 ︎︎︎ “Sara Uthman Sings Abeer Sultan” from ‘Mirror of The City’ Original title ‘مرآة المدينة’, Nouf Abdulkarim, Riyadh, KSA.
2023 ︎︎︎ ‘Hijaz Weddings in the Mirror of Art’, Abeer Bamofleh, Riyadh, KSA.
2021 ︎︎︎ Art & Production Assistant, Basmah Felemban, Riyadh, KSA.
2023 - 2024 ︎︎︎ Studio Manager, Alia Ahmad, Riyadh, KSA.
Publications
2022 ︎︎︎ “Sara Uthman Sings Abeer Sultan” from ‘Mirror of The City’ Original title ‘مرآة المدينة’, Nouf Abdulkarim, Riyadh, KSA.
2023 ︎︎︎ ‘Hijaz Weddings in the Mirror of Art’, Abeer Bamofleh, Riyadh, KSA.