Ahmed Mater, recognised as one of the most influential of Saudi Arabian artists today was born in 1979, in Tabuk, a military city in the north west of Saudi Arabia.

His father Mater Ahmed Al-Ziad was a sergeant in the army of Saudi Arabia and mother Fatimah Hassan Abdullah Aseeri was a painter and calligrapher. His mother introduced little Ahmed to Arabian and Islamic art. His wife Arwa Yahya Al-Neimy is also an artist.

 Though he got his M.B.B.S from Abha College of medicine, art was his main domain. Ahmed has proved his talent in photography too. His partnership with the British artist Stephen Stapleton led to the formation of ‘Edge of Arabia’, an independent arts initiative developing the appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.  For the Kochi Muziris Biennale, he showed his work titled ‘Desert of Pharan/Adam’. Here he used photographs, video installations and paintings to complete this work.  Venue: Moidu’s heritage, Fort Cochin