JEDDAH: Color Theory is an arts and crafts supply shop based in Riyadh. The term color theory is defined as a practical guide to color mixing and the visual effects of specific color combinations.
It offers a wide variety of acrylic and oil-based paints, brushes, colored pencils, oil pastels and spray paints, as well as all the necessary tools required for any given art project.
The owner of Color Theory, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Sunaidi, began to build his own business when he found that artists in Saudi Arabia needed a local art supply shop with the latest and most innovative art and design supplies.
“I began my career as an employee in the private sector. I had no prior experience in art. However, after working for a long while in an industry that was completely different from the field of art, I had a simple desire to leave my work in the private sector and start my own business,” he said.
There are always risks attached to any entrepreneurial venture, but Al-Sunaidi was confident in the art scene that was growing within Saudi Arabia.
“My circumstances gave me the opportunity to quit my job, and during my year of unemployment, I started visiting art galleries around the Kingdom. I would ask artists from where they bought their art supplies, and why they had not purchased them online.
“The artists would always tell me that they preferred to see the colors themselves. They wanted to touch the materials and feel the paintbrushes that they would use before purchasing. So I discovered that there was a need for this type of business,” he said.
Al-Sunaidi saw a colorful future ahead for Saudi Arabia and wanted to help bring it to the masses. “I believe there was a time when Saudi Arabia was gray, and now life is gaining color. Not just because I am now living among colors but also because the people themselves are becoming more colorful. They have started seeing life from a different perspective,” he said.
Color Theory is at 2656 Ash Sheikh Abdullah Al-Anqari, Salah Ad Din, Riyadh 12434. For customer inquiries, they can be reached at +966534883311. Follow them on Instagram for their latest product features and stock at www.Instagram.com/colortheoryksa
Startup of the Week: Adding colors to the Saudi cultural landscape
Startup of the Week: Adding colors to the Saudi cultural landscape
- The artists would always tell me that they preferred to see the colors themselves
Riyadh to install 25 new public artworks after conclusion of Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium
- Move will extend the impact of the annual art event beyond its conclusion, bringing large-scale contemporary artworks into the city’s streets and parks
- Artworks produced during the symposium will now become part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection
RIYADH: Some 25 sculptures created during the seventh edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium and exhibition will soon be installed across public spaces in Riyadh.
The move will extend the impact of the annual art event beyond its conclusion, organizers said, bringing large-scale contemporary artworks into the city’s streets and parks.
Organized by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City through the Riyadh Art Program, the 2026 edition has ended after nearly two months of live sculpting, exhibitions and public programming.
The artworks produced during the symposium will now become part of Riyadh Art’s permanent collection and will appear across the capital as part of a broader effort to integrate art into everyday urban life.
This year’s symposium began in January and took place along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, widely known as Tahlia Street.
The site was transformed into an open-air studio in which visitors could observe artists carving, welding and assembling sculptures.
The live sculpting phase, which was held between Jan. 10 and Feb. 5, brought together leading Saudi and international artists to produce 25 large-scale works.
The sculptures were created using locally sourced granite and reclaimed metal, highlighting both the region’s natural materials and the creative reuse of industrial elements.
Visitors were able to follow the process of each artwork’s development, from raw materials to finished sculptures, while also interacting with the artists and learning about their techniques and concepts.
The event also featured a wide-ranging community engagement program designed to deepen public understanding of contemporary art.
The program included 10 panel discussions, 105 training workshops and 15 masterclasses exploring sculptural techniques, materials and the role of public art in cities.
Educational outreach formed another key component of the symposium. Organizers hosted 25 educational visits for more than 600 students, while daily guided tours enabled visitors to explore the artworks and gain insight into the creative processes behind them.
After the live sculpting phase, the completed sculptures remained on-site until March 8, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the works in their original setting before their distribution across Riyadh.
The symposium was curated by Lulwah Al-Homoud, Sarah Staton, and Rut Blees Luxemburg, who guided the artistic direction around the theme “Traces of What Will Be,” exploring how sculpture can reflect future possibilities while responding to the city’s evolving identity.
