Lecture | New Beginnings: The Art of the Islamic Worlds Galleries
Installation view of the new Hossein Afshar Galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Photograph by Richard Barnes
Aimée Froom, curator, Art of the Islamic Worlds
Iran, Dish with Lion, second half of the 15th century, stonepaste; painted in blue on white slip under transparent glaze, the Hossein Afshar Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Muhammad Baqir, Dancing Girl, 1778–79, oil on canvas, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by Franci Neely, and Sabiha and Omar Rehmatulla at the 2015 Art of the Islamic Worlds Gala.
March 12, 2023
This talk explores the New Galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds, comprising nearly 6,000 square feet. For the first time, the full MFAH holdings in Islamic art are on display, along with a significant selection of Persian masterworks on extended loan from the distinguished collection of Hossein Afshar. Carefully assembled over the past 50 years, the Afshar Collection conveys the rich artistic traditions of Iranian civilization from the 7th to 19th century in exquisite paintings, important ceramics, precious inlaid metal ware, and finely woven silk fabrics and carpets.
About the Speaker
Aimée Froom is curator for Art of the Islamic Worlds and codirector of the World Faiths Initiative at the MFAH. In 2020 she was a Center for Curatorial Leadership fellow. Her book publications include Bestowing Beauty: Masterpieces from Persian Lands—Selections from the Hossein Afshar Collection and Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait.
Plan Your Visit
The lecture takes place in Lynn Wyatt Theater in the Kinder Building, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The galleries are in the Law Building. This program and entry to the galleries are included with general admission. On Sundays, the Museum is open 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Learning and Interpretation programs receive generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services; Samuel H. Kress Foundation; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; Houston Junior Woman’s Club; Sharon G. Dies; Sterling-Turner Foundation; Susan Vaughan Foundation; and additional generous donors.