B. 1967
Known for her minimalist, abstract, artworks that draw together elements of language, spirituality, and traditional Islamic art, visual artist Lulwah Al Homoud uses calligraphy and mathematical processes to form her own visual language.
Calligraphy is central to Al Homoud’s work, which explores the complexities of linguistic, mathematical and visual systems of communication. Her artistic practice is inspired by Islamic art and geometry, as well as Western artists like Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Mondrian. Al Homoud deconstructs Arabic script and applies ancient mathematical principles to devise unique systems of expression, revealed through the elaborate geometric patterns that have become a hallmark of her work. This process reflects the artist's preoccupation with the relationship between creator and creation, as well as the multifarious ways in which God communicates with man.
Al Homoud is an influential figure in KSA. Her work is currently illustrated and taught as part of the GCSE (year 9) of the Saudi Curriculum. Al-Homoud represented Saudi Arabia at the exhibition titled, Artificial Intelligence and Intercultural Dialogue", at the Hermitage Museum in Russia 2019 and in London design Biennal in 2018. Her work was exhibited and acquired by international museums, namely: the British Museum, LACMA ( Los Angles Country Museum of Art), Jeju Museum of modern and in Korea, Five Continent Museum in Munich, Germany and The Green Box Museum in Holland. Her work has been exhibited by institutes internationally including: Russia, China, USA, Europe and the Middle East. Al Homoud has designed many logos including The Saudi Arabian Pavilion Logo and 118 calligraphic wall panels in the Saudi Pavilion, World Expo, Shanghai 2010. Al Homoud worked with the British Museum in 2007 to introduce Arabic/Islamic art and design to British GCC students. She has also acted as a curator of international exhibitions since 1999 including: Master Strokes, London 2003 at October Gallery and Nabbatt: a sense of being, Duolun Museum, Shanghai 2010. She works with major museums in the region as an art consultant and is currently a member of board directors of the Art and Design Association in Saudi Arabia.
EDUCATION
1999 – 2000, MA Communication Design (Subject, Islamic Art), Central St Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, London
1994 – 1997, BA (Honors) (Cum Laude) Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design)
American College, London
1987, BA Sociology, King Saud University, Riyadh
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020, Space Within Light, Dar Al Funoo, Kuwait
2018, Being and Existence, London Design Beinnial, Somerset House, London
2018, Beyond The Grid, Tabari ArtSpace, Dubai, UAE
2016, The Dot, Sharjah Art Museum, Calligraphy Biennial, Sharjah, UAE
2016, Sublime, a collection of 8 years, Naila Art Gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2015, Islamic Art Festival, Sharjah Art Museum, UAE
2015, Perpetual Codes, a collection of 7 years, Solo Exhibition, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
2014, 9x9, Exploring Art and science, Tabari ArtSpace Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2013, Ontology, An expression of Geometry, Mathematics and Existence, Al Riwaq Art Space, Bahrain
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021, Reflections, The British Museum, London, UK
2021, Noor Riyadh, Riyadh, KSA
2020, Imprint, Masaha, MISK, KSA
2019, Mnwr, Hafez gallery, Kuwait
2019, AI & Intercultural Art, King Fahad Cultural Center,Saudi Arabia,Riyadh
2019, AI & Intercultural Art, Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2019, Art Dubai, UAE
2018, Alburdah Festival, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2018, Misk Culture Expo, Paris
2018, Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, Sharjah, UAE
2017, Wave Walk: Outdoor group sculptures, a project by La Mer, New York, USA
2016, Islamic Art Now 2: Contemporary Art of The Middle East,
Los Anglos County Museum, USA
2016, Perspective; Uncovered, Art Curial, Paris, France, also curator of exhibition
2016, Perspective; Uncovered, Majestic Hotel, Cannes, France, also curator of exhibition
2015, 3rd edition of Doha Symposium for GCC artists, Katara Cultural Village, Doha
2015, There are many walls but not enough bridges, Iranian and Arab Art Show at Kunst
(Zeug) Haus Museum, Rapperswil, Switzerland
2015, Trinity, Exhibition of three artists, Kelly Athanasiadou, Apostolis Zolotakis and Lulwah Al Homoud at THE WTC Art Gallery, Rotterdam, Holland
2015, The Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition, Dubai, UAE
2014, Collaborative exhibition by Gabriela Von Habsburg & Lulwah Al Homoud, Luzern, Switzerland
2012, Written Images, Contemporary Calligraphy from The Middle East, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Hong Kong
2011, Written Images, Contemporary Calligraphy from The Middle East, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, USA
2011, Arab & Iranian Art, Sotheby’s auction exhibition (sold), London, UK
2011, Nabatt: a sense of being Exhibition, Guest of honor at MENASART Fair, Beirut, Lebanon
also Curator of the exhibition
2011, Discipline of the Soul – A collaborative art exhibition by Lulwah Al Homoud & Hala Al Khalifa. Fiumano Fine Art Gallery, London
2011, The Art of Writing – Bilder werden geschrieben, an exhibition by The Written Art Foundation at the Art Forum of the Kurhaus Kolonnaden, Wiesbaden, Germany
2010, Nabatt: a sense of being Exhibition, Duolun Museum, Shanghai, China. Curator of the exhibition
2010, La Premier Grande Exposition D’art Contemporain Saudien A Paris, Musee Du Montparnasse, Paris
2010, Hurouf, The Art of The Word, Sotheby’s auction exhibition (sold), Doha, Qatar
2009, SU:MBISORI, Jeju Museum of Art, Jeju Special Self-Governing Provence, Korea
2009, Art Dubai, UAE
2009, Christie’s auction exhibition (sold), Dubai
2009, Balla Drama, Paradise Row Gallery, London
2009, Bonham’s auction exhibition (sold), Dubai
2008, Edge of Arabia Exhibition, Brunei Gallery, London University-Co-curator of the exhibition.
2008, King Abdullah University, Saudi Arabia
2008 & 2011 & 2015, nominee for the V&A Museum Jameel prize, London
2000, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
LACMA, (Los Angeles County Museum), USA
Five Continents Museum (Museum Fünf Kontinente), Munich, Germany
The Written Art Foundation, Germany
Greenbox Museum, Amsterdam
Jeju Museum of Art, Korea
Jameel ALJ Company, Saudi Arabia
Barjeel Art Foundation, UAE
Ministry of Culture, Qatar
King Abdulaziz Center, Aramco, Al Khobar
Abdullah AlSalem AlSabah Center, Kuwait.
LANDMARKS
Jeddah new International airport, Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah Foundation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
KAPSARC, King Abdullah Petroleum Research Center, Riyadh
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Beyond the Grid, a publication about the artist, Kutub Publishing, London
Geometry and Art in the modern Middle East, Skira Publishing, Italy
Contemporary Kingdom, the Saudi Art Scene, 2014
Tariqah, A publication by Barjeel Art Foundation, 2014
Saudi Artists 2014, A book on creativity from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aramco, 2014
The Art of Writing, The Written Art Foundation, Germany, 2011
SELECTED PRESS
2021, Vogue, Award-Winning Saudi Artist Lulwah Al Homoud Shares Why Art is a Mechanism for Change
2018, Harper's Bazaar, A Look At The Meditative Works Of Saudi Artist Lulwah Al Homoud