Islamic artists will often break a pattern deliberately, interrupting the order and logic of a design. Geometric forms were thought to embody the divine order of the universe, and art revealed God's true nature through geometric design.
Although Buddhist and Hindu art aficionados can find stunning sculptures and Jewish art lovers can examine medallions with Hebrew inscriptions, Islamic art is much more difficult to find.
Shouldn't the most authoritative of our cultural institutions, certainly those renown globally, be so sensitive as to represent the history of international art with the like mindedness of diplomats to mitigating the injuries historically wrought by political and cultural colonizations?
Time and again, while engaging with Muslim youth at schools, universities and community forums, a common anecdotal thread characterizing their ultimate educational experience is underreported bias-based bullying and otherwise discriminatory incidents at school. Hence, the need for dialogue.
In November 2011, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York re-opened a massive Department of Islamic Art, comprising 1,200 works from Turkey, Iran, ...
A rare collection of Islamic Art has made its way to Bonham's Auction House in Edinburgh this month, representing Scotland's largest private collectio...
Mention Kuwait and you elicit talk of oil wealth, desert sands, and Iraq's invasion of the emirate in 1990. Interestingly, it's been a center for art and culture since before the aggression.
Thoufeek Zakriya is a wonderful symbol of India's legendary tolerance for religious communities. He is a Muslim who does masterful Hebrew calligraphy.
"I used black and white film in a symbolic way to show that issues of human rights, women's rights, and refugee aid are 'black and white' -- as to say that humanity should get straight to the point and help others in need."
NEW YORK -- Shangri La calls to mind a secluded paradise, an exotic place that evokes the mysteries of the ancient Orient. For the late philanthropis...
Far from passive observers, these are artists whose works speak distinct messages -- some of spiritual intimacy, others of empowerment, education and dialogue and all embody the intersection of the American and Muslim cultural identity.
You don't need to read Arabic to see the beauty of this writing, or to see why it would quickly be incorporated into so many other artistic forms. The simple elegance of plain black script circling the rim of a white ceramic plate or bowl speaks for itself and is universal.
Such is the vision of the "Better World" that Islamic civilization created from the eighth century onward. These intrepid empire-builders managed to create great palace-garden complexes, where water is the central element.
Two buildings that represent a great contrast and diversity in Islamic architecture are the Taj Mahal in India, one of the most memorable buildings in human history, and the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali, the largest mud construction in the world.
Whatever the odds, there was a lot to be said about religion and religious art at TEFAF. In virtually ever section of the fair, there were at least dozens of examples of fascinating works with religious content and themes.
A new documentary film, Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World seeks to present some of the riches of Islamic artistic contributions to an American audience.
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- In the light of the Orme Lewis Gallery in Phoenix Art Museum, the brilliantly illustrated pages of the 18th century Chinese Quran se...
Navina Najat Haidar has been working on the Islamic galleries of The Metropolitan Museum for the past eight years, although the official name over the...
In art museums across the world, Central Asia and the Persian Empire are primarily represented by carpets and miniature paintings. While these exhibit...
The Morgan Library & Museum’s collection of Islamic manuscripts was the offspring of a love affair. When Pierpont Morgan’s librarian, Belle da Cos...
NEW YORK -- Standing in the grand entrance hall of the The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday, Navina Haidar shuffled between nervousness and glee ...
The power of art to reveal commonalities between seemingly distant sets of beliefs is powerfully displayed in an upcoming exhibit, entitled "Dis[Locat...
Uzbekistan was the center of the 7000-mile-long Silk Road -- where goods were exchanged between the east and west -- causing the area to flourish for centuries.
A statement from the Institute for Advanced Study says that over the last six decades Grabar's research "has had a profound and far-reaching influence on the study of Islamic art and architecture."
