Ahmed Mater was born in 1979 in a rural part of Southern Saudi Arabia. He is recognized as one of the most influential of Saudi Arabian artists today. By combining art, science and the concept of identity, his work marks a revival of contemporary art in Saudi Arabia with the emergence of an artistic scene. He grew up in Abha, the capital of Aseer, where he followed a career working both as an artist and as a doctor at the local hospital. Ahmed Mater’s work bears witness to his dual vocation; as an artist and doctor. It reflects the duality between the objective and subjective worlds. With his unique style, the artist mingles scientific reference, medical imagery, and religious symbolism in a truly original way. Widely shown in the Middle East and in Europe, Ahmed Mater is recognized as one of the most influential Saudi Arabian artists today. By combining art, science, and the concept of identity, his work marks a revival of contemporary art in Saudi Arabia with the emergence of an artistic scene.

“ The new, globalized culture made me question the values established by my conservative upbringing. I then tried to destroy them. A dilemma arose from this turmoil and I began to explore my religion – everything that surrounded me. All of this influenced what I call ‘the change’ and gave birth to new experiments in my art. „

—Ahmed Mater