3 September 2026 — 28 November 2026

Ektashif Uzbekistan Exhibition

New works by Qatari artists inspired by a journey through Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara

Ektashif Uzbekistan presents artworks created by Qatari artists following their journey through Uzbekistan, inspired by its rich Islamic heritage, traditional arts and iconic architecture. The exhibition is the outcome of an educational trip organised by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in collaboration with Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In previous years artists have visited countries such as India, Turkey, Spain and Morocco, gaining the opportunity to explore rich Islamic heritage and distinctive Islamic architecture. In 2025 the destination was Uzbekistan, where the group visited Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, cities renowned for their remarkable Islamic monuments, vibrant artistic traditions and cultural heritage. In Tashkent the artists visited the Museum of Applied Arts and the Hazrati Imam Complex and worked directly with local artisans in ceramic and embroidery workshops. In Samarkand they studied the monumental beauty of the Registan, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda mausoleum complex and Ulugh Beg's Observatory, and took part in workshops on Islamic geometry and traditional design. In Bukhara they immersed themselves further in local craft traditions through miniature painting, geometry, golden embroidery and ceramics, with visits to the Bukhara Biennale and to artisan studios, including the renowned ceramic workshops of Gijduvan. Throughout the trip the artists learned traditional techniques in geometry, ornamentation, ceramics, miniature painting and embroidery by hand, gaining a deeper understanding of Uzbekistan's artistic heritage and the enduring craftsmanship that defines its cultural identity. All the works in the exhibition are inspired by Uzbekistan; the journey enriched the artists' creative practices and opened new horizons in the exploration of traditional Islamic art. Highlights include an untitled series of eight panels (80 × 120 cm each), Anor (Pomegranate), 2026, a suspended group of slip-cast porcelain fired to 1200°C, and Strings of Memory, a wool carpet measuring 3.15 × 2 m. The exhibition is presented in the Fourth Floor West Side Gallery, with entry free with museum admission.

Museum of Islamic Art