Статья: Art for Saudi Arabia's New Luxury Hospitality: Riyadh, the Red Sea & Vision 2030
Art for Saudi Arabia's New Luxury Hospitality: Riyadh, the Red Sea & Vision 2030
The lion woman, lion art in bronze and gold, strength held with grace, as timeless as the desert light. Discover the Animal Fusion collection.
A Kingdom Building the Future of Luxury
No country is reinventing hospitality on the scale of Saudi Arabia. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is opening itself to the world with new cities, cultural districts and resorts designed to rank among the finest anywhere. From the towers of Riyadh to the mud-brick heritage of Diriyah and the untouched islands of the Red Sea, entire destinations are being imagined from the ground up.
In these new places, art is not an afterthought. It is part of how each property tells its story and welcomes the world. Zack Zublena’s gold fine art photography brings a particular presence to this vision: real people, dancers, yogis and athletes, painted by hand in gold and photographed as living sculpture, in a region where gold has always meant hospitality, generosity and celebration.
A triptych of leopard art and lion art, three fine art photographs hung as one set, scaled for the grand lobbies of a new generation of hotels. Enter the world of Animal Fusion. For a first look at the works collectors return to most, explore the most collected photographs.
Riyadh: A Capital in Full Transformation
Riyadh has become one of the most dynamic hotel markets in the world. Business towers in the King Abdullah Financial District, landmark hotels around Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah, and the season of events that fills the city each winter are drawing travelers, investors and creative audiences in unprecedented numbers. Each winter, the Noor Riyadh festival also turns the capital into a city of light art.
In a Riyadh lobby or executive lounge, a gold photograph brings warmth to marble, glass and polished stone. In a private majlis or boardroom, a single framed figure signals culture and craftsmanship before a word is spoken.
Diriyah: Heritage Meets Contemporary Art
Just outside the capital, Diriyah, birthplace of the first Saudi state, is being reborn as a cultural destination around the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district. Its JAX district has become a home for studios and exhibitions, and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation has given the Kingdom an international stage for contemporary art and Islamic arts.
The new hotels of Diriyah combine Najdi architecture, earth tones and natural materials. Gold fine art photography speaks naturally to this palette, its warm luminosity echoing the sand-colored walls and the soft light of the Najd.
A diptych of two leopards in dialogue, the wild and the human in walnut frames, at home against warm travertine and the earth tones of the Najd. Explore the leopard diptych.
The Red Sea: A New Standard for Resort Design
On the west coast, Red Sea Global is developing one of the most ambitious regenerative tourism projects in the world: resorts spread across islands, lagoons, dunes and mountains, designed to protect coral reefs and desert landscapes. Further north, the ancient oasis of AlUla has become a destination for art in the desert.
In resorts built around nature, art must feel calm and essential. A gold figure in a villa, a spa or an overwater lounge brings a human presence that complements the sea and the dunes rather than competing with them. Visit Saudi, the Kingdom’s official tourism platform, presents these new destinations to travelers from around the world.
Leopard fine art in gold, a close gaze in a room of wood and calm, a presence worthy of the desert. Meet the Animal Fusion leopards.
Culture, Wellness and Private Clubs
The Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture has made art a pillar of national life, and a new generation of wellness resorts, fitness clubs and private members’ spaces is growing across Riyadh and Jeddah. Zack’s photography has been installed in more than 120 David Lloyd Clubs across the UK and Europe, where members encounter golden figures week after week. Read the story of Zack Zublena’s photography in David Lloyd Clubs, or discover how gold fine art photography is shaping luxury hospitality in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Kingdom’s leading newspapers, Arab News, the Saudi Gazette and Asharq Al-Awsat, follow the openings, cultural events and design projects of this transformation closely.
Unveiled Instinct, a leopard of gold, fine art for a luxury hotel corridor, with the stillness of sculpture. Contemplate Unveiled Instinct.
Practical Notes for Projects in Saudi Arabia
- Cultural fit: artwork selection, cropping and framing are adapted to each project’s cultural expectations, with draped, masked and symbolic works available.
- Light and heat: intense sunlight calls for placement away from direct sun and for UV-protective glazing.
- Climate control: stable air conditioning protects prints; avoid hanging directly under air vents.
- Scale: grand lobbies and ballrooms suit triptychs and large formats; villas and suites often call for one strong vertical work.
- Projects: formats, editions and delivery to Riyadh, Jeddah, Diriyah or the Red Sea can be discussed for each project.
The leopard woman, a fine art portrait in warm gold tones. Discover the leopard woman.
Bring Gold into Your Saudi Project
Whether you are an interior designer working on a Riyadh residence, a hotel group preparing an opening on the Red Sea, or a developer shaping a landmark in Diriyah, contact Zack Zublena to discuss the right work for your space. Explore the Golden Souls collection and the diptychs and triptychs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gold fine art photography suitable for hotels in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Gold carries deep meaning in the region, and the warm tones complement marble, stone, brass and Najdi earth colors. Large formats and triptychs suit the scale of the Kingdom’s new lobbies and resorts.
Can the selection be adapted to local cultural expectations?
Yes. Zack works with hotels, designers and developers to select draped, masked or symbolic works and to adapt cropping and framing to each setting. Get in touch to discuss your project.
Are these photographs made with A.I.?
No. Every image begins with real people, painted by hand in gold and photographed by the artist. Videos of the painting sessions are available.
Is the gold real?
The golden appearance comes from body paint applied by hand to the models and captured in the photograph, then reproduced as a fine art print. 24K Gold available upon request.
Every photograph begins with a real person, painted by hand in gold and photographed by the artist. Never A.I.
Discover how each work is crafted by hand.
About the Artist
Zack Zublena is a French-American fine art photographer who has been painting dancers, yogis and athletes in gold since 2016, creating luminous figures that live between photography and sculpture. His work has been installed in more than 120 David Lloyd clubs across the UK and Europe.
