It is with much regret and sorrow that Painting & Patronage records the passing of His Excellency Dr Ghazi Algosaibi in Riyadh on 15 August 2010 aged 70.
Dr Algosaibi was a longstanding champion of Painting & Patronage since its launch in 1999. Dr Algosaibi served on the Honorary Committee of Painting & Patronage for ten years and played a prominent role during the first and second Painting & Patronage programmes held in London in 2000 and Riyadh in 2001.
Dr Algosaibi was a senior Saudi Arabian statesmen who served under four Saudi monarchs. From 1992-2002 he served as Ambassador to the Court of St James’s having earlier served as Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bahrain. In 2002 His Excellency was appointed Minister of Water and three years later in 2005 was appointed Minister of Labour – a position his held until his recent demise.
Dr Algosaibi was a well known liberal voice in Saudi Arabia and a highly regarded and prolific poet, novelist and columnist. He will be greatly missed.
Riyadh – 17 August 2010.
