This July marks a significant milestone for London’s cultural landscape as The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Since its opening in July 2006, the gallery has served as a premier home for the arts of the Islamic Middle East, housing a breathtaking collection that bridges centuries of human creativity. To mark two decades of public engagement, scholarship, and cultural exchange, the museum has curated a dynamic year-long anniversary programme featuring new displays, live craft demonstrations, academic conferences, and interactive conversations, while also looking ahead to future initiatives that continue to connect historical traditions with contemporary artistic expressions.
The creation of the gallery two decades ago was made possible through the generous support of the Jameel family, establishing a profound and lasting relationship with the V&A. This partnership further expanded in 2009 with the establishment of the Jameel Prize, a globally recognized international award that explores the complex and vibrant relationship between contemporary artistic practice and rich Islamic traditions. Today, supported by Community Jameel, the anniversary celebrations have allowed the institution to reflect on how public perceptions, curatorial approaches, and academic discourse surrounding Islamic art have evolved over the past twenty years.
A Year of Celebration and Living Traditions
Throughout its anniversary year, the V&A has placed making and traditional craft at the very heart of its programming, successfully bringing living artistic traditions directly into the gallery space alongside the historic artifacts that inspired them.
The celebrations began in earnest during May, aligning with London Craft Week, when the museum welcomed renowned Egyptian textile artist Hany Abd El-Kader. Demonstrating the intricate art of khayamiyya—traditional cotton appliqué work—Abd El-Kader captivated visitors during a sold-out talk that was introduced by Seif El Rashidi of the Barakat Trust. In addition to the public demonstrations, a select group of participants had the rare opportunity to engage in a hands-on workshop led by the master craftsman, allowing them to create and take home their own pieces of authentic khayamiyya.
On July 17, marking the exact day of the gallery’s twentieth anniversary, the museum hosted a landmark academic conference titled "The Islamic Art Museumscape." The gathering brought together international experts and museum professionals to take the pulse of how institutions worldwide curate, interpret, and engage with Islamic collections today, mapping out how thematic trends and museum practices have developed since the gallery first opened its doors in 2006. Later that same month, the museum hosted a vibrant Friday Late event in collaboration with Shubbak, titled "Body as a Vessel," which celebrated the dynamic breadth of contemporary Arab and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) creativity.
The anniversary momentum continued into September during the London Design Festival, marked by a striking new spatial installation by artist Aziza Kadyri that weaves gracefully through the gallery’s historic architectural arches. Kadyri’s collaborator, master embroidery artist Yulduz Mukhiddinova, traveled from Uzbekistan to lead immersive suzani embroidery workshops both within the gallery spaces and at the museum’s "Awakenings" Friday Late event. During these sessions, approximately 80 participants learned traditional stitching techniques, complemented by a captivating live performance from Uzbek singer-songwriter Laylo.
Twenty Years On: A Curatorial Perspective
Reflecting on the milestone, Mariam Rosser-Owen, Curator of the Middle East in the V&A’s Asia Department, emphasized the unique significance of the institution’s holdings.
"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," Rosser-Owen noted. She highlighted the fascinating history of the collection, which began in the 1850s at the very founding of the museum with the specific aim of improving British design. Over the subsequent century, the V&A’s holdings expanded to encompass world-famous objects that directly inspired some of Britain’s most celebrated artists and designers, including William Morris.
Rosser-Owen also pointed to the richness of the museum’s archival holdings, which preserve vital provenance information about the collections. The physical space occupied by the gallery today opened in 1950 as a dedicated venue to showcase the finest items from the collection for the first time. Although the space received a refresh in the 1970s, by the time the museum’s dedicated curatorial section for Middle East specialists was formed in 2002, the galleries were in dire need of a comprehensive overhaul. The transformative renovation in 2006, made possible by the Jameel family, finally allowed these world-class collections to be presented in an appropriately stunning and modern setting.
Echoing this sentiment, Fady Jameel, Family Ambassador of Community Jameel and Chairman and Founder of Art Jameel, underscored the deeper meaning of the partnership.
"The Jameel Gallery at the V&A anchors the Jameel family’s long-standing commitment to supporting and celebrating Islamic art," Jameel stated. "Over the past 20 years, the gallery has become a platform for research, public engagement, and contemporary creative practice, showing how historic artistic traditions continue to evolve. Through my family’s partnership with the V&A, and Community Jameel’s wider work supporting traditional arts and craftsmanship, we remain committed to fostering partnerships that preserve these traditions, while ensuring they continue to reach new audiences."
Five Objects Not to Miss
For visitors returning to the gallery or exploring it for the first time, curators recommend experiencing several standout masterpieces that define the breadth and depth of the collection.
At the center of the gallery rests the iconic Ardabil Carpet, created in 1539–1540 for the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in Ardabil, north-west Iran. Widely recognized as the world’s oldest dated carpet, a custom architectural case was constructed at the heart of the gallery upon its 2006 opening so that the monumental textile could be viewed flat on the floor as originally intended. To protect its delicate historical dyes from fading, the carpet is illuminated for ten minutes on every hour and half-hour.
Another monumental highlight is the rock crystal ewer, carved in Cairo between 1000 and 1050 for the treasuries of the Fatimid rulers. The vessel displays remarkable craftsmanship, featuring birds of prey swooping on horned animals amidst swirling palmette scrolls, all cut meticulously from a single piece of natural rock crystal.
Visitors are also drawn to the towering minbar made for Sultan Qa’itbay in Cairo between 1468 and 1496. This architectural pulpit features intricate geometric patterns assembled from hundreds of small, individually carved pieces of wood and ivory.
Near the entrance, a lustrous Malaga lustreware bowl from Spain, dating to 1425–1450, welcomes guests. Featuring a depiction of a ship sailing across its center, the bowl’s metallic glaze shimmers dynamically as viewers move around it.
Finally, a newly installed case at the back of the gallery showcases a selection of twentieth-century Iranian prints, stemming from a generous 2023 gift by Tarlan Rafiee and Yashar Samimi Mofakham. Featuring works by four leading figures of Iran’s pre-revolutionary modern art movement active between the 1950s and 1970s, the display includes an untitled 1975 screenprint by Nasser Ovissi, a pioneer of the influential Saqqakhaneh movement.
Still to Come
The anniversary celebrations will continue into November 2026 during Islamic Art Week, when artist Mariam Ashraf will demonstrate the ancient technique of plaster carving. This traditional method is used to create decorative architectural windows set with colored glass, echoing the nineteenth-century Cairo examples permanently housed in the gallery. The demonstration will also be broadcast via live stream to engage international audiences.
Two decades after its initial opening, The Jameel Gallery continues to reveal enduring connections between the past and the present, successfully bringing together extraordinary historical artifacts, living craftsmanship, and vibrant contemporary artistic voices.
The Jameel Gallery (Room 42, Islamic Middle East) is located at V&A South Kensington. Admission is entirely free, and no advance booking is required for general visits.