US contemporary artist Brendan Murphy discusses his first show in Riyadh

US contemporary artist Brendan Murphy discusses his first show in Riyadh
Brendan Murphy brought his solo exhibition “Complete Control” to Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 November 2024
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US contemporary artist Brendan Murphy discusses his first show in Riyadh

US contemporary artist Brendan Murphy discusses his first show in Riyadh

RIYADH: The American contemporary artist Brendan Murphy brought his solo exhibition “Complete Control” to Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh on Nov. 7. The Riyadh show is the conclusion of a global tour that Murphy began in June 2024 at Fineart Oslo. 

The show features a number of Murphy’s iconic “Spaceman” sculptures, with a particular focus on his limited-edition collectible series titled “Magication.”  

In an interview with Arab News, Murphy said the main goal of his show is to bring people “into the moment.” He also stressed that he felt a “creative cultural resonance” with the Kingdom, where he believes people have shown “an appetite for creative works.”  




The Riyadh show is the conclusion of a global tour that Murphy began in June 2024 at Fineart Oslo. (Supplied)

He said: “I have a lot of stuff I’m working on, but I’m focused on building a foundation in Riyadh right now. This show is not a one-shot deal, I want to be a part of this renaissance (that’s happening in Saudi Arabia) for the next five to 10 years, at least. I want to be a part of it — I want to lead it if I can.”  

Murphy’s body of work includes colorful abstract paintings and sculptures of his signature Spacemen, which explore themes of beauty, power, and the human experience. 

As a kid, watching astronauts and space shuttle launches played a major role in Murphy’s life and eventually became one of his main artistic inspirations.  




Brendan Murphy's 'Frozen With Desire.' (Supplied)

“My spacemen have little to do with space travel,” he explained. “They epitomize embracing the unknown — taking that step — more than somebody that literally is flying into darkness.” 

Murphy’s Spacemen come in various sizes and forms, including small collectibles and large-scale installations. This versatility allows them to fit into diverse settings, from private collections to public art displays. The sculptures can be found across the world, including a 13-foot Spaceman in Houston’s Minute Maid Park baseball stadium and a 22-foot Spaceman in Oslo. 

Murphy hasn’t always been an artist. He was once a professional basketball player in Europe, and then became a Wall Street trader. “I did not make a full pivot into accepting that I was a creative person until I was maybe 29,” he said. Today, he is one of most financially successful contemporary artists in the world. 

In 2021, Brendan created his “Boonji Project” — a collection of his artwork as non-fungible tokens — and launched it on the Ethereum blockchain (which uses the cryptocurrency Ether). It became the largest primary NFT sale in history, producing $15.5 million dollars.   




Brendan Murphy's 2023 work '9 Intentions.' (Supplied)

His work has proven popular with both serious collectors and celebrities, including the tennis players Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, as well as US business mogul Warren Buffett.  

Inspired by artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jackson Pollock — famed for their use of color — Murphy’s art aims to encourage the viewer to tune into their emotions and discover the unknown. 

“I love color as a means of communicating a feeling,” Murphy said. “When I make something and I get it right, my work creates energy and that’s pretty cool. Color is the easiest way of creating energy; different colors connect with different feelings.” 

Murphy said his practice, by choice, demands that he step out of his comfort zone. He utilizes non-traditional methods and rare materials including chrome and diamonds to create conceptual pieces. He has become famous for his extravagant works of art, including “Frozen with Desire,” a sculpture of an astronaut encrusted with 6,200 diamonds, priced at $25 million.  

“As an artist, you have to be uncomfortable all the time,” he said. “Find comfort in what you can control, then break it and go where you have no idea what you’re doing.” 


Zallal workshops in Diriyah celebrate calligraphy art

Zallal workshops in Diriyah celebrate calligraphy art
Updated 06 August 2025
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Zallal workshops in Diriyah celebrate calligraphy art

Zallal workshops in Diriyah celebrate calligraphy art
  • Running through Aug. 30, the event offers interactive and creative experiences for visitors of all ages
  • Arabic calligraphy workshops have become a popular attraction, offering visitors a unique opportunity to have their names written in a variety of traditional styles

RIYADH: Arabic calligraphy is among the highlights of the Summer of Zallal events, held every Thursday and Friday in the Al-Bujairi District of the Diriyah governorate.

Running through Aug. 30, the event offers interactive and creative experiences for visitors of all ages, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

The Arabic calligraphy workshops have become a popular attraction, offering visitors a unique opportunity to have their names written in a variety of traditional styles.

Saudi calligrapher Ayman Al-Khadhra said that he inscribed visitors’ names using various artistic styles of Arabic calligraphy, including Thuluth, Jeli Thuluth, and Diwani, as well as historic scripts such as Kufic.

He noted that the enthusiastic engagement from attendees reflects a growing interest in preserving traditional arts, the SPA reported.

The Zallal project stands as one of Diriyah’s most prominent modern developments, covering a total area of more than 53,000 square meters. It features seven contemporary buildings housing upscale restaurants, cafes, and dedicated venues for cultural events and live performances.


Kim Kardashian’s Skims to launch first store in the UAE

Kim Kardashian’s Skims to launch first store in the UAE
Updated 06 August 2025
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Kim Kardashian’s Skims to launch first store in the UAE

Kim Kardashian’s Skims to launch first store in the UAE

DUBAI: Reality star-turned-entrepreneur Kim Kardashian’s shapewear and loungewear brand Skims is set to make its brick-and-mortar debut in the UAE, with its first physical store opening at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

The launch date has not yet been announced.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SKIMS (@skims)

Founded in 2019, Skims quickly rose to prominence for its inclusive approach to shapewear, offering a wide range of skin tones and sizes. The brand has since expanded into loungewear, activewear and swimwear.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SKIMS (@skims)

The brand’s success has been bolstered by a roster of celebrity supporters, including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and even the brand’s co-founder Kardashian herself, who regularly appears in the campaigns.

Skims has also released high-profile collaborations, including a Barbie-themed collection and limited-edition capsule lines with fashion houses Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SKIMS (@skims)

The brand was available in the region exclusively through Ounass, the UAE-based luxury e-commerce platform operated by the Al Tayer Group. Known for bringing high-end international labels like Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale’s, Prada, and more to the Gulf, Al Tayer was also responsible for introducing Skims to the Middle East in December 2020.

Kardashian recently unveiled a new product under Skims — the Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap — a shapewear-style mask for the face that has stirred debate online.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SKIMS (@skims)

Retailing for $48 and “infused with collagen yarns,” the product sold out within 24 hours, driven by customers hoping to achieve a more sculpted jawline, as advertised.

While some have praised the product as a non-invasive and innovative approach to contouring, others have criticized Skims for promoting unrealistic beauty standards and contributing to body image insecurities.

One user on X wrote: “Can’t believe people are actually buying this Skims face snatching wrap,” while another commented: “Not sure how this would change your jaw or face shape at all … Recessive chin or jaw is real and can be fixed, but not with a wrap.”

Still, some users expressed enthusiasm about the release. “I don’t particularly like Kim K and I’ve never bought anything from Skims but low-key kind of want the face wrap..it looks like it would cure my tmj (Temporomandibular disorder),” one comment read.


Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity

Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity
Updated 06 August 2025
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Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity

Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity

DUBAI: Acclaimed Arab stars including Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki, Tunisian Egyptian actress Hend Sabry and Jordanian director and actress Tima Shomali will headline the upcoming Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi from Sept. 14 to 15.

The two-day event, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, aims to explore the evolving role of the language in the region’s fast-growing creative economy. It brings together cultural leaders, global tech voices and rising regional talent.

The celebrity trio will lead a panel titled “Her Narratives: Women Reimagining Arabic Creativity,” which highlights the impact of Arab women in reshaping storytelling across film, literature, media and digital platforms.

Labaki is best known for her Oscar-nominated film “Capernaum,” Sabry for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix’s “Finding Ola,” and Shomali for co-creating and starring in the Netflix series “AlRawabi School for Girls.”

The session will focus on their personal experiences, creative approaches and the challenges they have overcome while influencing Arabic cultural expression.

Hend Sabry is famous for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix’s “Finding Ola.” (Instagram)

Other highlights include “Whose Story Is It?”— a conversation on originality versus adaptation in Arabic television featuring Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum, Syrian author and poet Rami Koussa and OSN executive Rolla Karam.

The session will examine how localized remakes and original content shape identity and creative ownership in an increasingly globalized market.

The congress also brings together major players in technology and media, with partners including Google, AWS, TikTok, Adobe and Sard Writers’ Room.

The agenda spans themes including artificial intelligence, digital publishing, and the business of creativity through a series of curated panels and industry conversations.

In “Creators, Capital, and Control,” executives from Snap, TikTok and Meta will discuss power dynamics in today’s content economy.

Also, “Arabic Language Crisis and the Coming Shift” will examine the tension between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. Panelists include Dr. Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and language expert Dr. Hanada Taha Thomure.


Bella Hadid returns for Chopard’s new campaign

Bella Hadid returns for Chopard’s new campaign
Updated 05 August 2025
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Bella Hadid returns for Chopard’s new campaign

Bella Hadid returns for Chopard’s new campaign

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Bella Hadid continues her collaboration with Chopard, taking center stage on the brand’s Instagram feed throughout the week.

Hadid starred in the latest campaign spotlighting Chopard’s L’Heure du Diamant collection. This week, the brand shared a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot, showing the model in a white halter-neck dress as she posed in the sparkling jewelry pieces.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard)

In another set of images, Hadid wore a striking red high-neck top, paired with pieces from Chopard’s bold and romantic Haute Joaillerie collection, most notably a pair of dangling heart-shaped hoop earrings.

She rounded out the campaign in a glittering purple turtleneck top with long sleeves, once again styled with creations from the L’Heure du Diamant line.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard)

The model’s collaboration with Chopard began in 2017 when she became one of the faces of the brand’s high jewelry collections. Since then, she has appeared in several campaigns and has worn Chopard pieces at major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala, and Paris Fashion Week.

Last month, Hadid appeared in campaign images for the brand, modeling pieces from its high jewelry collection ahead of Paris Couture Week.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard)

In one of the images, Hadid wore a diamond necklace featuring a large yellow gemstone at its center. In another, she wore a coordinated jewelry set consisting of sapphire and diamond drop earrings, a matching necklace, and a statement ring.

Hadid has had a busy summer. In June, with the help of close friends, she expanded her beauty brand Orebella with a range of accessories.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard)

The model and entrepreneur teamed up with Wildflower Cases co-founders Sydney and Devon Lee Carlson to launch a limited-edition collaboration featuring two new products: an iPhone case and a “scentable wristlet.”

Hadid took to Instagram to announce the launch, writing: “Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to be creative with my beauty boss sisters. Life is beautiful when we have the opportunity to watch our friends winning. So proud of you two. So proud of our teams. So proud of us. Love you all — thank you for bringing this vision to life.”


UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera cancels Tel Aviv ‘Tosca’ after staff protest over stance on Gaza

UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera cancels Tel Aviv ‘Tosca’ after staff protest over stance on Gaza
Updated 05 August 2025
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UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera cancels Tel Aviv ‘Tosca’ after staff protest over stance on Gaza

UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera cancels Tel Aviv ‘Tosca’ after staff protest over stance on Gaza
  • It comes after 182 dancers, musicians, singers and technical staff sign open letter denouncing ‘recent actions and decisions’ by organization ‘in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza’
  • Letter backs actions of performer who raised a Palestinian flag on stage last month as ‘act of courage and moral clarity,’ and accuses organization’s director of opera of reacting aggressively

LONDON: The UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera has canceled a planned 2026 production of “Tosca” at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, after nearly 200 members of staff signed a letter criticizing the organization’s ties to Israel amid the war in Gaza, it was reported on Monday.

Company chief executive officer Alex Beard confirmed the decision in an internal message in which he acknowledged the letter and told staff: “We have made the decision that our new production of “Tosca” will not be going to Israel.”

A total of 182 members of the Royal Opera and Ballet, including dancers, musicians, singers and technical staff, signed the open letter on Friday denouncing the “recent actions and decisions taken by the RBO in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

In particular, they condemned the recent hiring out of the organization’s “Turandot” production to the Israeli Opera for performances that took place last month, The Guardian newspaper reported on Monday.

“The decision cannot be viewed as neutral,” they wrote. “It is a deliberate alignment, materially and symbolically, with a government currently engaged in crimes against humanity.

“The venue itself, the Israeli Opera, publicly offers free tickets to soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces ‘in recognition of their work,’ as stated on their website.

“The RBO is clearly making a strong political statement by allowing its production and intellectual property to be presented in a space that openly rewards and legitimizes the very forces responsible for the daily killings of civilians in Gaza.”

The letter demanded that the organization “withholds our productions from institutions that legitimise and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians,” and rejects “any current or future performances in Israel.”

It also offered support for performer Daniel Perry, who raised a Palestinian flag on stage during a curtain call on July 19 in what the letter described as “an act of courage and moral clarity.” It accused the RBO’s director of opera, Oliver Mears, of reacting aggressively.

“We witnessed (Mears) attempting to forcibly snatch the flag from the performer, displaying visible anger and aggression in front of the entire audience,” the letter said.

“Far from being a neutral administrative intervention, (his) act was itself a loud political statement. It sent a clear message that any visible solidarity with Palestine would be met with hostility.”

Perry has stated that Mears subsequently told him he would “never work for the Opera House ever again.”

The employees who signed the letter also highlighted what they described as a “deafening” double standard, noting the organization’s open support for Ukraine following the invasion by Russia in 2022, adding: “We understood then that silence was unacceptable. Why is it different now?”

In response, Beard said: “I am appalled by the crisis in Gaza and recognize the deep emotional impact this has had across our community and wider society. On this issue, we acknowledge and respect the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.

“The events at the curtain call on July 19 were without precedent. We have reflected carefully and reviewed our internal protocols. We always endeavor to act with integrity and compassion. We want our stage to remain a space for shared cultural appreciation, free from individual political statements.”

The RBO’s support for Ukraine was “aligned with the global consensus at the time,” he added, but global geopolitics had become more complex and so the organization’s stance had changed to ensure its actions reflected its “purpose and values.”

The Israeli Opera removed details of the production of “Tosca” from its website but has not commented on the cancellation.