Mona Saudi


Mona Saudi is a Jordanian-Palestinian sculptor, publisher, and art activist.

Life and career

Mona Saudi was born in Amman, Jordan. She grew up in a neighbourhood that was metres away from the Nymphaeum and this was her playground. The proximity to a historic site gave her a profound respect for Jordan's ancient art heritage, as well as providing her with a source of inspiration for her sculptures.
As a teenager, growing up in Amman, she knew that she wanted to move to Beirut, the then centre of the Arab arts scene, and become a full time artist. At the age of 17 years, she ran away from home, taking a taxi to Beirut. In an interview with the Gulf News, she explained that she left home without her father's permission because in her family, women were banned from attending university.
In Beirut, she met influential artists, poets and intellectuals, including Adonis, Paul Guiragossian and Michel Basbous, and became part of their social circle. She held her first exhibition in a Beirut cafe, and from this raised sufficient funds to purchase a ticket to Paris.
She enrolled at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and graduated in 1973. In Paris, she fell in love with stone as a medium for her sculpture and has been using it ever since.

Work

Saudi mainly sculpts in stone. She uses stones from around the world to create her sculptures. Outside of her country, Saudi is one of the best known Jordanian artists. Her subject matter explores themes of growth and creation.

Select list of sculptures