Qatar Museums Celebrates I. M. Pei with Two Landmark Exhibitions
This fall, Qatar Museums (QM) pays tribute to one of the world’s most influential architects, Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), through two major exhibitions opening on 30 October 2025 in Doha. The shows, I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture at ALRIWAQ and I. M. Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art: From Square to Octagon and Octagon to Circle at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) offer an unprecedented look into I. M. Pei’s global legacy and his enduring imprint on Qatar.
Keiichi Tahara (Kyoto, Japan, 1951 – 2017) The Museum of Islamic Art, 2008, Photography courtesy of Keiichi Tahara
Organised with M+ Hong Kong, Life Is Architecture is the first full-scale retrospective of Pei’s seven-decade career. Featuring over 400 objects, including original drawings, models, photographs, films, and archival documents, the exhibition explores I. M. Pei global impact through projects such as the Grand Louvre in Paris, Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and Doha’s own Museum of Islamic Art.
View of facade, Bank of China Tower (1982–1989), Hong Kong 2021 Commissioned by M+, 2021 © South Ho Siu Nam.
Structured around six themes, it situates I. M. Pei’s work within cultural and geopolitical contexts, underscoring his ability to merge innovation with tradition.
View of the knife-edge prow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art East Building (1968–1978), Washington, D.C. 2022 Commissioned by M+, 2022 © Naho Kubota
Tracing I. M. Pei’s life and work against the complex geopolitical realities and cultural legacies of the 20th and 21st centuries, I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture offers the fullest presentation of his work ever assembled.
I. M. Pei outside John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Dorchester, Massachusetts 1979 © Ted Dully/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubayia Qatar at Qatar Museums, stated, “By presenting Pei’s work within our evolving cultural landscape, Qatar Museums reaffirms its commitment to advancing global dialogue in art and architecture. Additionally, we are excited to announce a series of architecture workshops with esteemed architects and universities. These workshops will provide unique educational opportunities, fostering a deeper understanding of architecture’s transformative power and its capacity to shape both space and society.”
A bride’s photoshoot captured from Passage Richelieu, Grand Louvre (1983–1989), Paris, 2021 Commissioned by M+, 2021 © Giovanna Silva
Organised with the support of the Estate of I. M. Pei and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the architectural firm Pei founded, the exhibition is curated by Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, and Aric Chen, currently the Director of the Zaha Hadid Foundation, London. I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture was initiated by M+ and first held in Hong Kong from June 2024 to January 2025. It later began its world tour at Power Station of Art in Shanghai from April to August 2025, and concluded with more than 163,000 visitations.
I. M. Pei (Guangzhou, China, 1917 – New York, USA, 2019) Architectural Model of MIA 2002 – 2008 Wood, metal, and acrylic QM.2021.1298, Qatar Museums / General Collection – Doha, Qatar
Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, says, “I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture reflects seven years of rigorous research and dedication, culminating in the first full-scale retrospective of Pei’s visionary legacy. The exhibition first opened at M+, Hong Kong, in June 2024. We are delighted by the resounding success of the exhibition’s first touring presentation in Shanghai, and we are proud to continue its journey in Doha in collaboration with Qatar Museums. The exhibition in Doha has special resonance due to one of Pei’s most significant projects, the Museum of Islamic Art, which exemplifies his profound sensitivity to place and culture. This touring partnership underscores our commitment to sharing Pei’s legacy globally, fostering meaningful cultural dialogues and inspiring new audiences in alignment with M+’s mission.”
The Making of a Doha Landmark
The second exhibition focuses on the conception and design of the Museum of Islamic Art, a project that brought I. M. Pei out of retirement in 1999 at the request of Qatar’s leadership.
Henri Béchard (France, 1830-1920) Fountain and Minaret of the Column Mosque Cairo 1880 Albumen Print IMM.PH.PH.4831.07, Qatar Museums / General Collection – Doha, Qatar
It reveals how his search for the “essence of Islamic architecture” led him across the Islamic world and culminated in a design inspired by the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo.
Chess Piece Sicily Norman period, 11th – 12th century, Carved and incised ivory with coloured inlay and gilding. Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, IV.5.1998
Original sketches, rediscovered models from I. M. Pei New York office, historic artworks, and early acquisitions from the MIA collection, including a 10th-century astrolabe and a 14th-century mosque lamp, trace the making of a building that has since become a global icon.
Map of the World Folio from a copy of Mataliʿ al-budur fi manazil al-surur (The risings of Full Moons in the Mansions of Mirth) Written by ʿAlaʾ al-Din al-Ghuzuli Egypt or Syria Mamluk period, 15th – 16th century Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, MS.228.1998
The exhibition follows his creative process for developing the Museum, commissioned in 1999 by the Father Amir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Through original sketches and models, photographs, archival documents, early acquisitions from MIA’s collection, and a newly commissioned film, the exhibition traces the conception and realisation of MIA.
Educational and Public Engagement
Portrait of I. M. Pei at the Opening of the Museum of Islamic Art 2008, Digital print, Photography courtesy of Keiichi Tahara
The exhibitions are accompanied by Architecture and Design – Turning Vision Into a Universal Dialogue, a new QM platform for architectural discourse. Led by figures such as Philippe Starck, Lina Ghotmeh, and Herzog & de Meuron, the programme will include workshops, lectures, screenings, and collaborations with international and regional universities. Curator-led tours, family activities, and school sessions will also extend engagement to diverse audiences
Part of a National Cultural Milestone
I. M. Pei with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and guests at Fragrant Hill Hotel’s opening,1982, Photo: © Liu Heung Shing
Both shows run until 14 February 2026 and are part of Evolution Nation, QM’s 18-month campaign celebrating 50 years of Qatar’s cultural journey since the founding of the National Museum of Qatar. By spotlighting I. M. Pei, whose MIA transformed Doha’s cultural landscape, Qatar Museums reaffirms its role as a convener of global dialogue in art and architecture
