Indianapolis Museum of Art, 11/3/2012-01/13/2013

Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture brings to life the story of art created in the societies fostered by Islam, including objects from the seventh century to present day. The exhibition features more than 250 objects—including calligraphy, ceramics, paintings, woodcarvings, and textiles—that not only address what defines Islamic art, but also offer an overview of Islamic culture throughout history. Pieces in the exhibition would have been used and cherished in the homes of royalty as well as those created for modest levels of society. The exhibition draws heavily from collections across the United States as well as many other countries such as Kuwait, Great Britain, France, Denmark, Morocco and Italy. Some of the artworks will be seen for the first time in the United States, and the exhibition will be the first time this range of objects can be seen in one place.

Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Cultures is organized by the Brigham Young University Museum of Art and is supported by a major grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services, and grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional foundations and private donors who have generously contributed to Beauty and Belief include: Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley and the Wheatley family, King and Diane Husein, Don Bailey and Leslie Stanford, the R. Harold Burton Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Stephen A. and Martha Alice Sears West, the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts, the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University, the Semnani Family Foundation, the Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation, the Utah Office of Museum Services, and Dr. Omar M. and Dr. Nancy S. Kader.

Support for public programming at the IMA provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.