Lift, a hybrid exhibition, co-working and concept shop space, has opened in JAX, the pedestrianised cultural district on the outskirts of Riyadh.
“I wanted Lift to be more than a traditional gallery,” its founder, Princess Nouf bint Abdulaziz Al Saud, tells The Art Newspaper. “JAX is already a growing creative community, and Lift is the space where people can not only see art but also meet, create, and exchange ideas.” The gallery sells artwork but does not have a stable of represented artists.
Lift was first launched in 2020 with a space in central Riyadh but began moving to the JAX district in late 2024. The space is now fully open to the public. The Saudi architecture firm Quartz designed the 6,500 sq. ft space with an eye towards flexibility, including moveable walls and multi-use spaces that fit its varied programme. The hub hosts workshops, studios and exhibitions, and supports artists across disciplines, including the visual arts, design, film, photography and fashion, the latter of which is Nouf’s background.
Lift gallery includes a cafe open daily in addition to the rotating programme of exhibitions, pop-up shops, and workshops
Photo by Shoayb Khattab
“A big focus for us is supporting emerging Saudi and regional talent alongside more established creatives,” says Nouf. “We love bringing new artists to the scene.”
Lift has so far collaborated with a number of Saudi and international artists, including the French-Tunisian artist eL Seed, Bradley Theodore from Turks & Caicos and the Dutch-Chinese artist Zhuang Hong Yi.
JAX has been growing since its official opening in 2021. The redevelopment of the former industrial area is part of the larger Diriyah project, in which the Saudi state is transforming the historically significant area into a major cultural and touristic destination. The JAX district, which covers approximately 120,000 sq. m, now houses venues such as the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and SAMoCA (the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art), as well as numerous artists’ and designers’ studios, cafes and galleries.