Twenty-five years after her passing, the legacy of Soad Hosny continues to resonate far beyond the silver screen. Now, a new exhibition in Riyadh pays tribute to the beloved Egyptian icon, exploring how her image, influence, and artistic impact continue to inspire contemporary creatives across the Arab world. Titled Under the Spotlight, Alone, the commemorative exhibition is presented by Lift Gallery in collaboration with the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Riyadh and curated by Gaida AlMogren.
A Tribute to an Arab Cinema Legend
Hosted at Lift Gallery in the JAX District of Diriyah, the exhibition runs from June 3 to July 2, 2026, marking 25 years since Soad Hosny’s passing. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Arab cinema, Hosny’s career helped shape the region’s cultural landscape, earning her a lasting place in the collective memory of audiences across generations.
Reimagining Soad Hosny Through Contemporary Art
Through a diverse collection of paintings, installations, video works, and multimedia pieces, Under the Spotlight, Alone invites visitors to reconsider Soad Hosny’s image and influence through new artistic lenses.
The participating artists engage with her legacy not only as a cinematic icon but also as a visual and cultural symbol open to reinterpretation. Their works explore themes of memory, identity, fame, and representation, creating conversations that move beyond film history into broader questions of personal and collective remembrance.
Three Artists Reimagine Soad Hosny’s Legacy
Bringing together artists from different generations and backgrounds, the exhibition highlights distinct artistic approaches that intersect around shared themes of memory, image, and identity.
The featured artists are Egyptian artist Mohamed Abouelnaga, Saudi-Palestinian artist Ayman Yossri Daydban, and Saudi artist Noor Hisham Alsaif.
Together, the three artists offer unique interpretations of Soad Hosny’s enduring presence, demonstrating how a cultural icon can continue to inspire new creative dialogues decades after her lifetime.
Where Art, Memory, and Cinema Meet
More than a retrospective, Under the Spotlight, Alone serves as a meeting point between cinema and contemporary art. By revisiting Soad Hosny’s legacy through multiple perspectives, the exhibition reflects on the lasting power of cultural icons and the ways their stories continue to be reshaped by new generations.
As visitors move through the exhibition, they are invited to look beyond the actress herself and consider the broader questions her image evokes about memory, identity, representation, and the enduring relationship between art and popular culture.
A quarter of a century after her passing, Soad Hosny remains one of the Arab world’s most beloved and influential cultural figures. Through the work of three contemporary artists, Under the Spotlight, Alone celebrates her legacy while opening it up to fresh interpretations, proving that her impact continues to transcend time, medium, and generation.
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