Museum for Indian-Born Artist M. F. Husain Opens in Qatar

November 28, 2025

Museum for Indian-Born Artist M. F. Husain Opens in Qatar

Qatar Foundation has unveiled Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum, a living testament to the enduring legacy of one of the world’s greatest modern artists, Maqbool Fida Husain. Located in Education City, Doha, the museum stands as the first institution in the region dedicated entirely to Husain’s artistic genius.

The museum was inaugurated on November 27, 2025, by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, at a spectacular ceremony that welcomed art collectors and experts from across the globe.

Guests were taken on an immersive journey through Husain’s life and work—from the motifs that defined his practice to the pivotal historical moments that shaped his artistry.

Held on the eve of the public opening on 28 November, the ceremony marked the arrival of a major new cultural landmark in Qatar. It concluded with a powerful, poignant moment: the unveiling of the painting bearing Husain’s own sketch for the museum’s concept—a vision that Qatar Foundation and architect Martand Khosla have transformed into reality. The museum now carries Husain’s name and narrates his story.

In her remarks at the inauguration, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser said: “Today we stand before a retrospective scene, as we honour a star of the past, celebrate his brilliance in the present, and bear witness to his legacy as it ventures into new horizons of the future. Maqbool Fida Husain is a legendary artist – a true master whose artistic works transcend borders and connect cultures, histories, and identities. I am delighted to fulfil the dream of this late, esteemed artist by inaugurating the museum, which will stand as a new landmark in Education City showcasing pages from his life and a collection of his works.”

Designed as a space for learning, discovery, and cross-cultural dialogue, Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum invites visitors to step into Husain’s world. Through paintings, films, tapestry, and photography, they can trace how his artistic odyssey unfolded.

The museum features more than 150 of Husain’s original works and personal objects in the custody of Qatar Foundation. Several pieces have never been displayed before, and intimate items from the artist’s life appear alongside interviews and quotes revealing the man behind the art.

The curatorial narrative maps the cultural references and historical threads from the Arab region and South Asia that shaped Husain’s visual language.

Husain’s Artistry Within

Among the works exhibited are some of the 35 paintings inspired by Arab civilization that Husain completed before his passing in 2011. His final masterpiece, Seeroo fi al ardh, opened by Qatar Foundation in 2019 and celebrating the progress of humanity, now forms an integral part of the museum.

Other works on display highlight Husain’s engagement with Islamic history and motifs, reflecting his long-standing interest in Islamic artistic and cultural traditions. Collectively, the artworks illustrate how Islamic history and regional aesthetics informed the artists’ evolving creative approach.

Following the inauguration, HH Sheikha Mozah and guests toured the museum’s galleries, which chart Husain’s life and artistic journey, his reflections on faith and philosophy, his pursuit of unity and diversity, and his connection to his Yemeni ancestry and the heritage of Arab civilization. The evening concluded with a gala dinner held within Seeroo fi al ardh, which now serves as one of the museum’s galleries.

Conceived as a work of art in its own right, one that mirrors the diversity of his vision and his lifelong pursuit of innovation—the museum embodies Qatar Foundation’s belief in the power of art to inspire curiosity, inquiry, imagination, and dialogue. It expands QF’s extensive portfolio of public art, which includes more than 100 works installed throughout Education City, accessible for all to experience and enjoy.