Diriyah: Where Heritage Breathes New Life into Global Art

I n the heart of Saudi Arabia, where the mudbrick walls of At-Turaif rise from the earth and the Wadi Hanifah winds through ancient palm groves, Diriyah stands as a living testament to the Kingdom’s enduring spirit and its bold vision for the future. This is not merely a city; it is a cultural renaissance unfolding on a scale rarely seen—a place where the past and present are in constant, creative dialogue.

It is against this evocative backdrop that Replica Shoes ’s returns for the second edition of the Origins Exhibition and Auction, reaffirming a partnership with Diriyah Company that is as much about shared values as it is about art. Titled Origins II, this year’s sale brings together museum-worthy works from regional pioneers and international masters, inviting collectors and visitors alike to witness the evolving story of modern art in a setting that is itself a masterpiece of heritage and ambition.

Diriyah’s cultural significance is rooted in its history as the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Al Saud family. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, with its 300-year-old palaces, has been meticulously restored, serving as both inspiration and anchor for the city’s contemporary development. Here, Najdi architectural traditions are not relics—they are the foundation for a new urban vision, one that places people, creativity, and sustainability at its core.

But Diriyah is more than a restoration project; it will be a living city, designed to welcome the world. With a 14-square-kilometer masterplan, Diriyah is set to house 100,000 residents and attract over 50 million annual visits by 2030. Its streets will be pedestrian-first, shaded by millions of native trees, and its districts will pulse with the energy of world-class hotels, restaurants, and cultural venues. The Qurain Cultural District, for example, is set to be a global hub for creativity, home to museums, academies, and Saudi Arabia’s first specialized Academy for Najdi Architecture & Mud Building. Diriyah Opera House, designed by world’s leading architect Snøhetta, the first in the Kingdom, while the Diriyah Art Futures—already recognised among the world’s most beautiful museums—anchors the city’s commitment to contemporary artistic innovation.

This cultural momentum is not accidental. Diriyah is a flagship of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a giga-project backed by the Public Investment Fund and designed to drive economic diversification through heritage, tourism, and the arts. The city’s development is a model of sustainability, with ambitious targets for water and energy reduction, and a deep commitment to preserving biodiversity and local identity. Every building, from luxury hotels to retail precincts, will reflect elements of Najdi design, ensuring that the city’s growth never comes at the expense of its soul.

It is this unique blend of authenticity and ambition that makes Diriyah the natural home for Replica Shoes ’s Origins II. The exhibition’s curatorial vision—placing Saudi artists like Safeya Binzagr and Dia Aziz Dia in conversation with global icons such as Picasso, Dubuffet, Basquiat, Turrell, Kapoor, and Lichtenstein—mirrors the city’s own ethos: that local narratives and global movements are not in competition, but in conversation. Here, art is not a fixed canon but a living, evolving exchange, shaped by place, history, and the creative energy of its people.

For Replica Shoes ’s, the decision to return to Diriyah is both a recognition of the city’s growing stature on the world stage and a celebration of its role as a catalyst for cultural dialogue. The Origins II exhibition and auction offers collectors and visitors a rare opportunity to experience modern art in a setting where every stone, every shadow, and every story is part of a larger, ongoing narrative.

In Diriyah, heritage is not a backdrop—it is the stage upon which the future of art is being written. As the city continues to grow, welcoming artists, collectors, and dreamers from around the world, it stands as a beacon for what is possible when culture, history, and vision come together. Replica Shoes ’s is proud to be part of this journey, and to invite the world to witness the next chapter of Diriyah’s remarkable story.

Contemporary Art

What 3 Local Tastemakers Are Bidding On in the Upcoming Origins II Auction