Throughout history, royals have shaped the art world through commissions, collections and patronage. Their role was once to discover emerging talent, champion artists and acquire works to adorn their palaces and royal collections.
Today, some are stepping beyond admiration and patronage to become royal artists themselves, taking over the art world with talents and creativity.
Discover the royal artists who are making a name for themselves on the art scene.
Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa is one of Bahrain’s most prominent contemporary artists, having begun exhibiting his work at just 18. After studying in the UK, he returned to Bahrain in 1978, where the country’s landscapes, architecture and heritage became central to his artistic practice.
His work has evolved from atmospheric paintings of Bahrain to bold abstraction, sculptural forms and his signature convex canvases, which explore the interplay of light, colour and perception. Today, he works across painting and wall-mounted aluminium installations, drawing on traditional Islamic design and Bahraini architecture through a distinctly contemporary lens.
A long-standing advocate for the arts, Al Khalifa has also played a significant role in Bahrain’s cultural landscape, including as co-founder of the Bahrain Arts Society and founder of the RAK Art Foundation. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and Saatchi Gallery in London.
Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum
Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling family, is an established multimedia artist whose practice spans photography, digital montage and installation art. Her work often blends Emirati heritage with surreal imagery. She is also the founder of Tashkeel, one of Dubai’s leading art and design hubs.
In 2015, her photographic artwork Sustaining Identity sold for AED 14 million at the Art4Sight charity auction organised by the Noor Dubai Foundation, making it the most expensive Emirati artwork ever sold at a charity auction.
Princess Fakhrelnissa bint Raad
Princess Fakhrelnissa bint Raad, known as Nissa Raad in the art world, is a Jordanian royal and artist whose whimsical work draws inspiration from both urban and natural landscapes. Born in Amman in 1981, she studied history at Brown University before earning an MSc in urban development and design from UCL in London.
Greatly inspired by her late grandmother, the celebrated Turkish artist Fahrelnissa Zeid, Raad’s work is characterised by rich textures, vibrant colours and bold lines. She has held several sold-out exhibitions in Amman and Istanbul, and has participated in group exhibitions and art fairs locally and internationally.
Prince Sultan bin Fahad Al Saud
Prince Sultan bin Fahad is a multidisciplinary Saudi visual artist whose practice spans conceptual art, sculpture and large-scale installations. His work explores Islamic identity, history and cultural memory, often drawing on themes of heritage and spirituality.
He has presented solo exhibitions in Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, alongside group exhibitions in Saudi Arabia and internationally. His work has been acquired by the Palestine Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
Sayyida Latifah Al Said
Sayyida Latifah Al Said is a member of Oman royal family and a contemporary artist based in London, whose practice explores memory, identity, belonging and the connections between people and nature. Drawing on her dual heritage, she creates layered works using archival imagery, historical references, fashion magazines and personal photographs.
With an MA in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art and an MFA in Painting from the Slade School of Fine Art, Latifa’s practice also explores female empowerment, mythology and the divine feminine, with a wider aim of fostering empathy, dialogue and harmony between diverse communities.
