This first-of-its-kind museum showcases the global impact of oil with art
More than 350 artworks are a part of the permanent collection
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh in particular, is home to some of the most incredible museums, and another stellar one has just been added to the list. Welcome to the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh.
Located at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre, in an iconic building designed by Zaha Hadid, with interiors by DaeWha Kang Design, the museum itself looks like a piece of art. The Black Gold Museum was inaugurated by the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, earlier this week.
Unlike other regular, run-of-the-mill science or industry museums, the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh approaches oil through an artistic, cultural, and human lens through modern and contemporary art. It features a permanent collection of more than 350 artworks from over 30 countries, created by more than 170 leading Saudi and international artists, including Manal AlDowayan, Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono, Mohammad Alfaraj, Ayman Zedani, Doug Aitken, Jimmie Durham, Dennis Hopper, Alfredo Jaar, Renaud Layrac, George Sabra, Pascale Marthine Tayou, and Andy Wauman, among others.
The multi-media museum presents major installations, photographs, and historical documentation, offering visitors an opportunity to explore how oil has shaped societies, economies, and everyday life.
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The museum is divided into four interactive sections: Encounter, Dreams, Doubts, and Visions.
- Encounter presents the global story of oil’s discovery and its early uses in the 19th century, highlighting its role in driving industrialisation.
- Dreams traces how oil became a vital resource that reshaped societies and fueled development ambitions.
- Doubts offers a critical reflection on oil’s impact and the complexities of global reliance on it.
- Visions looks toward the future through a dynamic program of dialogue and discovery.
Location: Black Gold Museum, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre
Timing: 10am to 10pm
Cost: Free, but you have to book tickets here
Images: Saudi Gazette
