Nahed Mohammed Turkestani

Dr. Nahed Mohammed Turkestani is a Saudi Ceramist, academic, educator, businesswoman, and visual artist known for her dedication to Islamic, heritage, and contemporary visual arts. With over three decades of experience, she has played a pioneering role in shaping the academic and artistic landscape in Saudi Arabia. Since 2018, she has served as a Faculty Member at the Department of Art, University of Jeddah, after a distinguished career as a Faculty Member at King Abdulaziz University – College of Home Economics (1992–2018). Dr. Turkestani is also a Board Member and Co-Founder of NWA Art Gallery (since 2018), Consultant for General Authority – Monsha’at (2019–present), Consultant for the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (2021–2023), and Consultant for the Handicrafts Association (2018–2020). From 2014 to 2018, she served as Head of the Expertise House for the Ceramic and Visual Arts Forum at King Abdulaziz University.
An established visual artist specializing in ceramic and sculptural arts since 1988, Dr. Turkestani’s work has been showcased across local and international exhibitions, including “Nagham & Tahakkok” (Jeddah, 2023), “Jamal Al-Rouh” (Jeddah, 2023), NWA Art Forum (Spain, 2023), Ceramists’ Forum (Bahrain, 2023), Collective Ceramic Exhibition (Germany, 2022), and Founding Day Exhibition (Riyadh, 2022). She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Arts from the International Islamic University Malaysia, a Master’s in Visual Arts from George Washington University (USA), and a Bachelor’s in Art Education from King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia). Throughout her academic and artistic journey, Dr. Turkestani has contributed significantly to advancing Saudi art education and promoting cultural dialogue through art. Her work reflects a balance between authenticity and innovation, celebrating Saudi heritage while engaging with global artistic conversations.