Abstract Cubist Woman and Bird, 1982

Mona Saudi (1945–2022) was a Jordanian sculptor renowned for her abstract stone works that harmoniously blend geometric forms with organic curves. Born in Amman, she moved to Beirut at 17 to immerse herself in the city's vibrant art scene, holding her first exhibition at Café de la Presse in 1963. She later studied sculpture at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, graduating in 1973. ([labiennaledelyon.com](https://www.labiennaledelyon.com/en/les-artistes/details/mona-saudi?utm_source=openai))

Saudi's sculptures, often carved from regional stones like Jordanian jade, pink limestone, and Syrian black diorite, reflect influences from ancient Levantine civilizations. Her monumental piece, "Géométrie de l’esprit" (1987), stands outside the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the only artwork permitted in the building's vicinity by architect Jean Nouvel. ([naila.org](https://naila.org/mona-saudi?utm_source=openai))

Throughout her career, Saudi exhibited widely, including retrospectives at Darat al Funun in Amman (1995) and the Sharjah Art Museum (2018). Her works are held in collections such as the British Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Sharjah Art Foundation. ([artasiapacific.com](https://www.artasiapacific.com/news/obituary-mona-saudi-1945-2022?utm_source=openai))