About The N.E.S.T.
The N.E.S.T. (New Experimental Salon for Travelers) is an independent, artist-led experimental salon and residential gallery founded by artist Abdulmohsen Albin Ali in AlUla. Conceived as a platform for critical engagement, interdisciplinary exchange, and site-responsive practices, it operates outside institutional frameworks to foster genuine artistic autonomy.
Rooted in AlUla’s long history as a place of passage, The N.E.S.T. reimagines that role through an artistic lens. Just as travelers and pilgrims once paused here on their journeys, leaving belongings behind before continuing onward, artists are invited to stay, create, and leave traces of their practice. Their works are exhibited temporarily, embodying the spirit of movement and continuity that has always defined AlUla.
As the only independent, artist-run space in AlUla, The N.E.S.T. functions simultaneously as a home and a gallery, blurring the boundaries between domestic space and artistic experimentation. It offers artists an immersive environment where living and creating coexist, encouraging risk-taking, collaboration, and the exploration of new methodologies across disciplines.
Through exhibitions, residencies, film screenings, performative ceremonies, discursive gatherings, and community initiatives, The N.E.S.T. fills a critical gap in AlUla’s cultural landscape. By bridging local and international networks, it fosters cross-cultural dialogue and positions AlUla as a hub for experimentation, innovation, and collaboration. Its mission is to ensure that artistic expression remains fluid, dynamic, and deeply connected to place, while offering true creative freedom to both emerging and established artists.
Architecturally, The N.E.S.T. is structured across two levels. The rooftop serves as a site for open-air programming, immersive dining, and live performances, while the indoor space accommodates exhibitions, screenings, artist talks, and intimate gatherings. Together, these spaces form a flexible environment for artistic production and critical discourse, embodying The N.E.S.T.’s commitment to exploration and exchange.
About The Founder
Abdulmohsen Albinali is a multimedia artist and filmmaker. Born in Saudi Arabia, he grew up in an artistic household and began exploring art from a young age. His professional pursuit of art began in 2008 when he moved to the U.K. In 2013, Albinali relocated to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, where he became involved with several art institutions, including Tashkeel art-hub and the Emirates Fine Arts Society, while also attending classes at the Sharjah Art College. He later enrolled at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, earning a BFA in 2018.
During his time in the U.S., he was active in the local art community. Upon graduating in 2018, he returned to Saudi Arabia and presented his first solo show in Khobar. In 2020, he was selected for residencies at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and the Albalad Residency. In 2021, he joined the first cycle of the Masaha Residency at the Misk Art Institute in Riyadh. In 2025, he completed residencies at NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and TBA21 – Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid, Spain.
Between 2021 and 2023, Albinali pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Slade School of Art, University College London (UCL), graduating with distinction.
Currently based in AlUla, Albinali continues to develop his artistic practice while fostering the local creative community.