g its potential and interpretation. Informed by his family’s history of migration, and interested in abandoned, uninhabited places, the artist explores notions of non-belonging through a practice structured by storytelling. With his post-minimal black, white and gray tonal ranges, he has resolved his work around the potential of the line and the void to create, both as a reference to his drawing practice and as a conceptual framework.
He represented Saudi Arabia at the 59th Venice Biennale with his project The Teaching Tree (2022). His participation in biennials and festivals, include the Sea Art Festival, Busan (2023); Islamic Arts Biennale, Jeddah (2023); Noor Riyadh Festival, Riyadh (2022 and 2023); Lyon Biennale, (2022); Diriyah Biennale, Riyadh, (2021); and Desert X, Al Ula (2020). He has exhibited in various group and solo shows across the region and internationally, including at Louvre Abu Dhabi (2023); Parcours, Art Basel (2022); the British Museum, London (2021 and 2018); GAM Sculpture Garden, Turin (2019); MACBA, Barcelona (2018); Ithra, Dammam (2019); 21.39 Jeddah Arts, Jeddah (2020 and 2017); and Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (2017).
His work is in collection at the British Museum, London; the Art Jameel Foundation, Dubai; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Ithra Art Centre, Dammam; and Al-Mansouria Foundation, Riyadh. Shono is the recipient of the 2021-2022 National Cultural Award in Visual Arts, Saudi Arabia. His forthcoming monograph Muhannad Shono. Works [2014-2024] is published by Kehrer Verlag. He lives and works in Riyadh and is represented by Athr Gallery.