{"id":3155,"date":"2026-10-18T14:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/?p=3155"},"modified":"2026-10-18T14:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:00:28","slug":"two-decades-of-art-and-heritage-celebrating-20-years-of-the-jameel-gallery-at-the-va-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/?p=3155","title":{"rendered":"Two Decades of Art and Heritage: Celebrating 20 Years of the Jameel Gallery at the V&A"},"content":{"rendered":"

This July marked a significant milestone for the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington as it celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Jameel Gallery. Since its opening in July 2006, the gallery has served as the V&A\u2019s primary home for the arts of the Islamic Middle East, housing a breathtaking collection that spans over a millennium of history. As the museum looks back on two decades of cultural stewardship, it is also reflecting on a year defined by new displays, live craft demonstrations, and scholarly conversations that continue to bridge the gap between historical mastery and contemporary artistic expression.<\/p>\n

The Jameel Gallery is a testament to the enduring power of global heritage, bringing together approximately 400 objects that trace a geographic and historical arc from Spain to Central Asia. The collection, which includes ceramics, intricately woven carpets, delicate metalwork, refined woodwork, glass, and rare manuscripts, showcases artistic achievements dating from the 8th century to the present day. Crucially, the gallery has maintained its commitment to public access, remaining free for all visitors to explore these treasures, which represent some of the most significant contributions to world art.<\/p>\n

The inception of the gallery was made possible through the generous support of the Jameel family, a collaboration that marked the beginning of a profound and lasting relationship with the V&A. This partnership deepened significantly in 2009 with the launch of the Jameel Prize, an international award designed to explore the vibrant, often complex relationship between contemporary artistic practice and the deep-rooted traditions of Islamic art. Throughout this anniversary year, with the ongoing support of Community Jameel, the museum has curated a series of public programmes, academic conferences, and special events to honor the gallery\u2019s legacy and its ongoing relevance in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

A Year of Living Craft and Cultural Celebration<\/h3>\n

A central theme of the anniversary celebrations has been the integration of "living craft" into the museum space. By inviting contemporary practitioners to demonstrate their skills alongside the historic artifacts that served as their inspiration, the V&A has sought to animate the gallery, showing that these traditions are not static relics of the past but are, instead, evolving languages of beauty and technique.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/figure>\n

In May, the gallery leaned into this ethos during London Craft Week, welcoming the renowned Egyptian textile artist Hany Abd El-Kader. His demonstration of khayamiyya<\/em>\u2014the intricate art of cotton appliqu\u00e9\u2014offered visitors a rare glimpse into the painstaking process required to create these vibrant tent-making masterpieces. The event, which featured an introduction by Seif El Rashidi of the Barakat Trust, proved so popular that it was entirely sold out. A select group of attendees was also afforded the unique opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop, allowing them to try their hand at the traditional craft and depart with a piece of khayamiyya of their own making.<\/p>\n

The celebrations reached a crescendo in July, precisely twenty years after the gallery first opened its doors to the public. On July 17, the museum hosted The Islamic Art Museumscape<\/em>, a landmark conference that invited experts to take the pulse of how institutions globally manage and interpret Islamic collections today. The discussions focused on how themes, trends, and the very nature of museum curation have shifted over the last two decades. Later that same month, the museum\u2019s Friday Late<\/em> programme, curated in collaboration with the arts organization Shubbak and titled Body as a Vessel<\/em>, provided a dynamic platform for contemporary Arab and SWANA (South West Asian and North African) creativity, underscoring the gallery’s role as a space for modern dialogue.<\/p>\n

As the year progressed into September, the focus turned to the London Design Festival and the intersection of textile art and modern installation. The artist Aziza Kadyri debuted a new, site-specific installation that weaves through the gallery\u2019s iconic arches, drawing visual links between the space\u2019s architecture and contemporary design. Her collaborator, the esteemed Uzbek embroidery artist Yulduz Mukhiddinova, traveled from Uzbekistan to lead intensive suzani embroidery sessions. During these workshops, held both in the gallery and as part of the Awakenings<\/em> Friday Late event, approximately 80 participants were taught the traditional stitches, accompanied by a performance from the Uzbek singer-songwriter Laylo.<\/p>\n

A Legacy of Curatorial Excellence<\/h3>\n

For the curators at the V&A, the anniversary is a moment to contextualize the collection\u2019s long and storied history. Mariam Rosser-Owen, a curator of the Middle East in the museum’s Asia Department, emphasizes the depth of the institution’s commitment to these works. "As curators of Middle Eastern art, we are so fortunate to be able to work with one of the best collections of Islamic art in the world," she notes. <\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/figure>\n

The history of the V&A\u2019s involvement with Middle Eastern art dates back to the 1850s, shortly after the museum\u2019s founding. The initial impetus was to provide British designers and artists with a source of inspiration and a benchmark for quality, a mission that saw the museum acquire world-class objects that eventually influenced figures as notable as William Morris. The current gallery space itself has a long history, having first opened in 1950 as a dedicated home for the collection. While the displays were refreshed in the 1970s, it was the formation of the specialized Middle East curatorial section in 2002 that highlighted the need for a more comprehensive overhaul. The 2006 renovation, spurred by the Jameel family\u2019s patronage, provided the world-class setting the collection demanded, ensuring that the objects could be presented in a way that is both academically rigorous and aesthetically compelling.<\/p>\n

The Vision of the Jameel Family<\/h3>\n

The impact of the gallery extends far beyond the physical objects on display. Fady Jameel, the Family Ambassador of Community Jameel and the Chairman and Founder of Art Jameel, views the gallery as a cornerstone of his family’s philanthropic mission. "The Jameel Gallery at the V&A anchors the Jameel family\u2019s long-standing commitment to supporting and celebrating Islamic art," he explains. <\/p>\n

Over the last twenty years, the gallery has evolved into a vital platform for research and public engagement. It stands as a testament to how historic artistic traditions can be preserved while simultaneously remaining relevant to new generations. Through the ongoing partnership between the Jameel family and the V&A, the goal remains to ensure that these traditions\u2014and the extraordinary craftsmanship they represent\u2014are not only preserved but are actively communicated to diverse global audiences.<\/p>\n

Iconic Objects in the Collection<\/h3>\n

For visitors, both new and returning, the gallery offers several unmissable touchstones. Among the most significant is the Ardabil Carpet, dating back to 1539\u201340. Originally commissioned for the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in Ardabil, Iran, it remains the world\u2019s oldest dated carpet. Its presentation in a central, custom-built case allows visitors to view the piece as it was intended to be seen: on the floor. To ensure the preservation of its vibrant dyes, the carpet is illuminated for ten-minute intervals on the hour and half-hour.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/figure>\n

Other highlights include a masterfully carved rock crystal ewer from 11th-century Cairo, an object of immense prestige once held in the treasuries of Fatimid rulers. The piece is a feat of craftsmanship, featuring intricate depictions of birds of prey and horned animals rendered within swirling scrolls. Nearby, the towering minbar\u2014a pulpit\u2014made for Sultan Qaitbay in the late 15th century commands attention. Its complex geometric patterns are composed of hundreds of individual pieces of wood and ivory, showcasing the technical zenith of Mamluk-era carpentry.<\/p>\n

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a striking lustreware bowl from 15th-century M\u00e1laga, Spain. Its surface features a ship sailing across the center, a design that catches the light and shimmers as the viewer moves. Furthermore, the gallery continues to expand its scope with recent acquisitions, such as a 2023 gift of 20th-century Iranian prints by Tarlan Rafiee and Yashar Samimi Mofakham. These works, including a 1975 print by Nasser Ovissi, provide a window into the modern art movements that flourished in Iran during the mid-20th century, proving that the gallery\u2019s narrative is a living, growing entity.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n

As the anniversary year draws to a close, the V&A shows no signs of slowing down its engagement efforts. In November 2026, during Islamic Art Week, the museum will host a demonstration by artist Mariam Ashraf on the traditional art of plaster carving. This technique, essential for creating the decorative windows inlaid with colored glass\u2014many examples of which are featured in the gallery\u2019s 19th-century Cairo collection\u2014will be showcased in a live-streamed event, extending the gallery’s reach to a digital audience.<\/p>\n

Twenty years after its inception, the Jameel Gallery continues to function as a vital bridge between the past and the present. By fostering an environment where extraordinary historical artifacts coexist with contemporary creative voices, the V&A ensures that the study of Islamic art remains a dynamic and vital part of the cultural conversation. The gallery remains open to the public at the V&A South Kensington, inviting all to discover the depth and complexity of these enduring artistic traditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This July marked a significant milestone for the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington as it celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Jameel Gallery. Since its opening in July 2006, the gallery has served as the V&A\u2019s primary home for the arts of the Islamic Middle East, housing a breathtaking collection that spans over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[262],"tags":[274,1448,275,1894,805,126,3926,276,18],"class_list":["post-3155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asian-art-and-culture","tag-asian-art","tag-celebrating","tag-culture","tag-decades","tag-gallery","tag-heritage","tag-jameel","tag-philosophy","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}