Fouad Mougharbel's artistic practice is grounded in a lifelong engagement with Madinah Almunawwarah, one of Islam's holiest cities, where he was born and raised. Working between figuration and abstraction, he develops a visual language that reinterprets the city's sacred architecture, historic urban fabric, and lived traditions. The works presented in this catalog focus on Madinah's historic neighborhoods, highlighting mosque domes, intimate passageways, and scenes of communal life drawn from memory and lived experience. Fouad Mougharbel's paintings offer an inward reflection on place, foregrounding the city's cultural and spiritual significance while inviting a deeper, more contemplative encounter.
Published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition at Misk Art Institute, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall, Riyad, in 2026.
Fouad Mougharbel (born 1951 in Medina), a foundational figure in Saudi Arabia's modern art movement, has made lasting contributions as a painter, muralist, educator, and author. His influence extends beyond his studio practice to the development of the cultural and institutional frameworks that supported the emergence of artistic production, in Madinah Almunawwarah, and subsequently, across the Gulf. At a time when the city lacked formal infrastructure for artistic production such as exhibition venues and professional networks, Mougharbel emerged as a key figure in establishing artist-led platforms that laid the groundwork for sustained artistic activity in the region.
