QM lines exhibitions Q1 2025

Qatar Museums (QM) is offering a diverse lineup of exhibitions for the first quarter of 2025, with displays ranging from Pakistani art and architecture to Moroccan design and the works of American artist Ellsworth Kelly, showcased across various locations in the country.

The ongoing Art Mill Museum’s “Manzar: Art and Architecture from Pakistan 1940s to Today” at the National Museum of Qatar will be on view until January 31, 2025, featuring around 200 works, including paintings, drawings, photographs, videos, sculptures, installations, tapestries, and miniatures.

According to QM, this one-of-its-kind exhibition offers a comprehensive view of modernities and contemporary practices within Pakistan, exploring how artists and architects have engaged with continuity, discontinuity, knowledge transfer, resilience, and ecological concerns over eight decades.

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is also hosting the “Qatar | Morocco: Crafting Design Futures” until January 11, 2025. This exhibition is the culmination of the year-long Design Doha Residency, a collaboration between Qatar and Morocco as part of the Year of Culture initiative.

Showcasing new works by participating designers, QM noted that the exhibition highlights a cross-cultural dialogue between Qatari and Moroccan creatives. Qatari designers including Reema Abu Hassan, Majdulin Nasr Allah, Abdulrahman al-Muftah, and Nada Elkharashi, spent time in Morocco exploring traditional craft, while their Moroccan counterparts, Amine Asselman, Amine El Gotaibi, Sara Ouhaddou, Bouchra Boudoua, and Hamza Kadiri, engaged in residencies in Qatar, resulting in a collection of innovative designs that emphasise sustainability, heritage, and craftsmanship.

The Benchellal: Monumental ‘sculpting past tomorrow’ exhibition, on view at Liwan Design Studios and Labs until January 18, 2025, spotlights the couture creations of Moroccan-Dutch fashion designer Mohamed Benchellal, who developed his collection during a residency at the studio.

According to QM, this exhibition showcases Benchellal’s unique approach to fashion, integrating traditional elements with modern innovation, and serves as a testament to the regional collaboration and support for Arab designers.

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, meanwhile, is hosting “Seeing Is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme” exhibition until February 22, 2025. This exhibition delves into the art and legacy of French painter and sculptor Jean-Léon Gérôme, examining the influence of the Orientalist movement through photography and comparing it with contemporary artworks from West Asia, North Africa, and Central Asia.

M7 Msheireb Downtown Doha is presenting “Ellsworth Kelly at 100” until February 25, 2025, marking the American artist’s first-ever retrospective in the region. Organised by Glenstone Museum, the exhibition comprises more than 70 works, offering a comprehensive overview of Kelly's career from his early days in Paris to his final years as a Modern art icon.

“Ektashif: Morocco” will be on view until February 26, 2025 at MIA, showcasing the artistic interpretations of six Qatari artists and designers who recently travelled to Morocco as part of an educational trip. Their work is inspired by the country's rich Islamic heritage and architecture.

QM noted that “Splendours of the Atlas: A Voyage Through Morocco’s Heritage” will run until March 8, 2025 at MIA, serving as the centrepiece of the 2024 Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture. By combining collections from both countries, this exhibition creates a journey through Morocco’s artistic and historical identity, highlighting the beauty and complexity of its Islamic legacy.

MIA also hosts “Between Palms and Trees: The Land of Sunset Unfolded,” an exclusive book display exhibition running until March 30, 2025. This exhibition presents a rare collection of books celebrating Morocco’s cultural heritage.