![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CS5PD2AM55MUMGCO2N2UGKXD4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=26040b4346c5148b6eb3af1ebfbc1140a8a9bd555f34fbbf24efc4472e6475da&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza’s studio, at the back of his house, showing works in progress. Al Ruzaiza was one of the first abstract artists in the Kingdom. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C4R4JUAYLT7RCEUJZ3YIAECFXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea9e24cf375d2e50e3411d2655ef42473e75fd361e24cfbad527446b87e2e20c&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza at the door to his home, which he carved and painted himself. It doesn't have a doorknob and one must knock to get in. Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4CDD3BH6MDFFYAWZ36FYDAA5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0858639b477feed84dd41a994c3660c106a82ea9291dd1ae1b66057752483271&width=400&height=225)
A painted door on display in Ali Al Ruzaiza's house. Al Ruzaiza has salvaged numerous carved and painted doors and window frames, and hangs them next to his own works. Courtesy Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFJXZEQYH7IS3CVR7A4YIXA3WU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc1feb49b28b7f2c8c288d5a973fd86ae98a4935331ebb57cd874bb3e0fb5a72&width=400&height=225)
A work in progress in Ali Al Ruzaiza's studio, at the back of his house. Courtesy Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H57GP4FEMI2ASFW3R6DQWOAG6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=a606b1fa1a62b032ae17c64cc390a6ad09009973f5df02fc23656cc63bf3f26d&width=400&height=225)
During the Noor Riyadh festival, Al Ruzaiza's artworks were projected onto the Masmak Fort – which Al Ruzaiza used in the well-known logo he deisgned for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state. Courtesy Noor Riyadh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGTBSPSSRLEQSHPBKKPMSVHV7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=39563172faebfe609fa02f7149a72173877114f133700f55832a7b1e08bf9068&width=400&height=225)
During the Noor Riyadh festival, Al Ruzaiza's artworks were projected onto the Masmak Fort – which Al Ruzaiza used in the well-known logo he deisgned for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state. Courtesy Noor Riyadh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DSANSSSI7LEM63ZCXYZXWAWVMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec65cbe7f53e0a571de5bab3e396765f5d9a8c98fd59affb89ef0c17d1c38e2e&width=400&height=225)
A work of art by Ali Al Ruzaiza hanging in his dining room. He also made and carved the table and chairs, all integrating traditional Najdi geometric patterns. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIUI2CD4MAUVRUMTXWB4TXMP2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4526460712ef64d694cff2341a4a41fdd60d60047f46c7ddc9176e8fda0acd76&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza created a traditional site for preparing and serving kahwa to his guests. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DJQSW5D2DLCTPXZMCZB6GHMBH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4d39be59a11039d02eb7a71ae22cf1818c974f72b246432105b262c7c0165d5&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza’s majlis, containing his paintings as well as charismatic and window frames that he has carved. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/64OJTY3XKSMTBIKTJJPLWKN6UA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb8d0120961389675540a585d6ecf27674fb9df1eca0ad48b3cf8d4609bd66a7&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza created a traditional site for preparing and serving kahwa to his guests. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CS5PD2AM55MUMGCO2N2UGKXD4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=26040b4346c5148b6eb3af1ebfbc1140a8a9bd555f34fbbf24efc4472e6475da&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza’s studio, at the back of his house, showing works in progress. Al Ruzaiza was one of the first abstract artists in the Kingdom. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C4R4JUAYLT7RCEUJZ3YIAECFXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea9e24cf375d2e50e3411d2655ef42473e75fd361e24cfbad527446b87e2e20c&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza at the door to his home, which he carved and painted himself. It doesn't have a doorknob and one must knock to get in. Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4CDD3BH6MDFFYAWZ36FYDAA5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0858639b477feed84dd41a994c3660c106a82ea9291dd1ae1b66057752483271&width=400&height=225)
A painted door on display in Ali Al Ruzaiza's house. Al Ruzaiza has salvaged numerous carved and painted doors and window frames, and hangs them next to his own works. Courtesy Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFJXZEQYH7IS3CVR7A4YIXA3WU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc1feb49b28b7f2c8c288d5a973fd86ae98a4935331ebb57cd874bb3e0fb5a72&width=400&height=225)
A work in progress in Ali Al Ruzaiza's studio, at the back of his house. Courtesy Melissa Gronlund
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H57GP4FEMI2ASFW3R6DQWOAG6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=a606b1fa1a62b032ae17c64cc390a6ad09009973f5df02fc23656cc63bf3f26d&width=400&height=225)
During the Noor Riyadh festival, Al Ruzaiza's artworks were projected onto the Masmak Fort – which Al Ruzaiza used in the well-known logo he deisgned for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state. Courtesy Noor Riyadh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGTBSPSSRLEQSHPBKKPMSVHV7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=39563172faebfe609fa02f7149a72173877114f133700f55832a7b1e08bf9068&width=400&height=225)
During the Noor Riyadh festival, Al Ruzaiza's artworks were projected onto the Masmak Fort – which Al Ruzaiza used in the well-known logo he deisgned for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state. Courtesy Noor Riyadh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DSANSSSI7LEM63ZCXYZXWAWVMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec65cbe7f53e0a571de5bab3e396765f5d9a8c98fd59affb89ef0c17d1c38e2e&width=400&height=225)
A work of art by Ali Al Ruzaiza hanging in his dining room. He also made and carved the table and chairs, all integrating traditional Najdi geometric patterns. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIUI2CD4MAUVRUMTXWB4TXMP2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4526460712ef64d694cff2341a4a41fdd60d60047f46c7ddc9176e8fda0acd76&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza created a traditional site for preparing and serving kahwa to his guests. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DJQSW5D2DLCTPXZMCZB6GHMBH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4d39be59a11039d02eb7a71ae22cf1818c974f72b246432105b262c7c0165d5&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza’s majlis, containing his paintings as well as charismatic and window frames that he has carved. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/64OJTY3XKSMTBIKTJJPLWKN6UA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb8d0120961389675540a585d6ecf27674fb9df1eca0ad48b3cf8d4609bd66a7&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza created a traditional site for preparing and serving kahwa to his guests. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CS5PD2AM55MUMGCO2N2UGKXD4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=26040b4346c5148b6eb3af1ebfbc1140a8a9bd555f34fbbf24efc4472e6475da&width=400&height=225)
Ali Al Ruzaiza’s studio, at the back of his house, showing works in progress. Al Ruzaiza was one of the first abstract artists in the Kingdom. Courtesy Myrna Ayad
Is Saudi artist Ali Al Ruzaiza's home his greatest work of art?
Ali Al Ruzaiza's hand-crafted abode filled with his artworks is now an official cultural treasure
![Melissa Gronlund](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc451ae4e-15a2-4553-acaf-7a29665268c0.png?smart=true&auth=7b94f464cacaa1ea45c4eece566b2d02e0a33157f7ea4d7427295d4b2c7fed54&width=70&height=70)
Melissa Gronlund
03 May, 2021
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