London, New York, Paris…Detroit? Islamic Art Exhibits Are Cropping Up Everywhere

Its automotive industry may not be so hot right now, but there’s always the next best thing for Detroit – Islamic art! Enthusiasts rejoice! The Detroit Institute of Arts has opened a permanent gallery of Islamic art, showcasing approximately 170 works of art from the Middle East, Central Asia, India and the Mediterranean region.

The new gallery is part of the Institute of Arts’ whopping $158 million renovation. It joins several other museums, which have recently been creating or updating their Islamic art exhibits. According to the AP:

“New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is working on a suite of Islamic art galleries and The David Collection in Copenhagen is preparing to close its gallery for a reinstallation. The Louvre in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London also boast of major renovations to their collections. And Egyptian officials plan to reopen Cairo’s Museum of Islamic Art.” Art capitals of the world – New York, Paris, London – Detroit? Works for us!

Detroit’s collection includes a rare 15th century leather-bound Quran, a candlestick from 1500 from one of the largest-known Ottoman mosques, a cut-tile mosaic panel from 15th century Iran, and a 17th century floor covering from Turkey believed to be the largest of its kind. The themes of the art work span 1,500 years and highlight the Islamic world’s role in influencing and infusing different cultures and regions of the world.

Next week also marks the beginning of Art Dubai, a festival showcasing the best in Middle Eastern contemporary art. These exhibits, not to mention the London Science Museum display on Muslim inventions that recently took place, are no doubt a positive result of the curiosity about Islam that followed September 11th. Have you been to any of these exhibits? Let us know which ones are the best via the comments below.