Qatari art

File:جانب من معرض الحرف العربي للمقتني المهندس إبراهيم الفخرو 02.JPG in September 2014]]

Historically, figurative art was not a feature of Qatari society due to Islamic traditions, and as a result, illustrative art forms such as paintings and drawings were rare. Instead, other visual art forms such as architecture, calligraphy and textiles were more highly valued. However, during the oil boom in the 1950s and 1960s, figurative art began to gain popularity, with common themes focusing on Islamic and Arabic heritage.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 141

The Ministry of Education played a significant role in promoting art education in the 1950s by integrating it into the school curriculum and providing facilities for art workshops. In this vein, the ministry developed plans and programs to improve art teaching methods and enlisted skilled educators in the field. Additionally, it organized both local and national art exhibitions and provided educational resources such as films showcasing famous artists' works and various artistic techniques. Art education textbooks focusing on art appreciation, art history, and teaching methods were also introduced to teacher training institutes. The first nation-wide student art exhibition in 1961 showcased the creativity of Qatari students, many of whom later became notable artists.{{cite web|url=http://aljasra.org/archive/cms/?p=324|title=رحلة الفن التشكيلي بدولة قطر أ.د. ليلي حسن علام|publisher=Aljasra Culture Magazine|date=16 June 2010|access-date=30 July 2015}}

The Al Jasrah neighborhood, located near the well-known Souq Waqif, was the hub of Qatari cultural life in the 1950s. It was home to significant families closely linked to the rulers and other tribes, and it became a meeting place for several artists, including: Jassim Zaini (1943–2012), who is often regarded as the founder of the modern art movement,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-12-26 |title=Artist honoured: Source of inspiration |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/26/12/2012/artist-honoured-source-of-inspiration |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=thepeninsulaqatar.com |language=en}} Yousef Ahmad, Hassan Al Mulla, Ali Hassan, Salman Al-Malik, and Mohammed Al-Jaida, among others. Their childhood stories and shared passion for art would, many years later, lead to the establishment of the first art group in Qatar, The Three Friends, followed by the Qatar Fine Arts Society.{{cite magazine|last1=Dagher|first1=Charbel|author-link1=Charbel Dagher|url=https://www.dohamagazine.qa/%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A3%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8E%D9%86%D9%91-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1/|title=نشأة الفَنّ التشكيلي في قطر|magazine=Doha Magazine|publisher=Ministry of Culture (Qatar)|language=Arabic|date=10 November 2022|accessdate=15 June 2024}}

In the 1950s, the first social and cultural clubs, such as the Al-Oruba Club and the Al-Nasr Club, emerged. However, it wasn't until the Al Jasrah Social and Cultural Club was established in 1971 that these clubs began to contribute significantly to the art scene.

As an initiative to develop the local artist base, the Ministry of Education began offering scholarships to study art abroad. Jassim Zaini became the first Qatari art student to study abroad on a scholarship in 1962 after he enrolled in the University of Baghdad.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=Jassim Zaini |url=http://mathqaf.com/2021/12/15/jassim-zaini/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Mathqaf |language=en-GB}} Further artists were sent abroad on art scholarships during the 1960s and 1970s, including Wafika Sultan, Hassan Al Mulla and Yousef Ahmad. The latter became the first artist to receive an M.A. in 1981. Wafika Sultan emerged as the first professional female visual artist after graduating in 1974.

Initially, few Qatari artists had formal fine arts education, with many pursuing art through various academic routes. This changed with the establishment of Qatar University in 1973 and the eventual introduction of the Art Education Department in 1986, which produced generations of graduates. Early beneficiaries of Qatar University's arts program include artists Wafa Al-Hamad, Badriya Al-Kubaisi, and Khawla Al-Mannai.

The 'Free Studio' training program became an introductory gateway for university students, conceptualized by the Ministry of Education in the late 1960s and operational by the early 1980s under the Ministry of Information. Prominent Egyptian artist Gamal Kotb played a key role in developing training programs for the studio. The studio offered courses and public lectures, with state support providing salaries for participants and inviting prominent artists for training sessions.

File:Qatari sketch artist at work in Souq Waqif.png

Art exhibitions were held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education until 1972.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 142 The limited art exhibitions at the time were held in venues like the Gulf Hotel, the National Museum of Qatar, the Qatar Fine Arts Society, and clubs like Al Jasra and Al Gharrafa, with no private galleries existing at the time. Notable early exhibitions include the UNESCO Art Exhibition showcasing European painters from 1900 to 1925, the Leonardo da Vinci Manuscripts Exhibition in 1972, and the Watercolor Exhibition in 1976. Yousef Ahmad was the first artist to hold a solo exhibition in 1977.{{Cite web |title=Yousef Ahmad |url=https://rakartfoundation.com/artists/yousef-ahmad/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=RAK ART FOUNDATION |language=en-GB}} The Department of Culture and Arts inaugurated the country's first art gallery, located in the Visual Arts Centre, in 1977 under its director Nasser Al-Othman.

Several art institutions and cultural clubs began to form in the 1970s; the most prominent among these was the Al Jasrah Cultural Club, which was formed in 1971. As the art movement in Qatar began to mature, the Al Jasrah Cultural Club took on the responsibility of uniting talented artists. Jassim Zaini was a member of the club's administrative committee in addition to his role as an art education supervisor at the Ministry of Education. Through his position and involvement in Al Jasrah Club, Zaini gathered many emerging talents, providing them with guidance in aspects such as color, line, and space. Among his students were several who went on to become prominent artists in the industry, including Yousef Ahmad, Salman Al Malik and Hassan Al Mulla.{{cite web|last1=Fathi|first1=Osama|url=https://arab22.net/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%89-%D8%8C-%D9%81%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AD-%D8%AA/|title=الفنان القطرى جاسم زينى ، فن حديث بروح تعبيرية|publisher=Arab22|language=Arabic|date=5 July 2020|accessdate=15 June 2024}} The club was officialized in 1974 at a ceremony held in Al Jasrah Hall.

Following the founding of Al Jasrah Club, several other art institutions were established. In 1976, Mohammed Al-Mannai opened the Cultural Center. This was followed by Qatari government's establishment of the Department of Culture and Arts, which was later renamed the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Heritage, also in 1976.{{cite web|url=https://www.moc.gov.qa/en/intellectuals-principle/brief-history/|title=Brief History|publisher=Ministry of Culture (Qatar)|accessdate=16 June 2024}} Finally, in 1977, the newly established Department of Culture and Arts, under its first director Nasser Al-Othman, opened the Visual Arts Center to the public. These institutions organized international exhibitions in Qatar, showcasing the work of Qatari and regional artists and evoking public interest in the visual arts.

In 1977, Yousef Ahmad, Hassan Al Mulla, and Muhammad Ali founded the country's first art group, "The Three Friends Group". After chartering a bus, they traveled across Qatar, holding small-scale exhibitions where they displayed their works. The Qatar Fine Arts Society was established in 1980 to promote the works of Qatari artists and held its first exhibition in 1981.

Development initiatives exclusive to Qatari women artists began in 1980 with the official opening of The Free Studio, an arts education center under the Ministry of Information. With the aim of encouraging artistic talent through courses and public lectures, the center operated on a schedule that allocated two days for female students and three days for male students for two hours daily throughout the year. The first women's session took place on 6 June 1980 and was supervised by Bahraini artist Najah Al-Madani, who played a significant role in educating many women artists. Many fundamental skills were taught to both men and women, including drawing with pencil and pastels, oil painting, Arabic calligraphy, and ceramics.

The state's support for The Free Studio included providing generous stipends for enrolled students, ensuring competent teachers, and facilitating student participation in exhibitions organized by the Department of Culture and Arts. Esteemed international artists were also invited to conduct training courses for the studio participants. Between 1981 and 1985, the studio produced several female artists, including Wafa Al-Hamad, Maryam Abdullah and Jamila Al-Shuraim. Many of these students, including Hessa Al-Muraikhi, who later became the supervisor of the women's section, continued their artistic practice after their training at the studio.

In 1981, an art workshop was opened for women with the aim of providing them with an opportunity to hone their artistic skills.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 144 In December 1982, the country's first art exhibition for women was held.

File:Sheikh Hassan.jpg has featured prominently in Qatar's art scene since 1986]]

Five main art movements emerged in the country by the late 20th century: surrealism, realism, expressionism, abstract art, and calligraphy.

In 1986, Qatar University established its Art Education Department. In the beginning, the program did not have many participants, but it gradually became a more popular field of study over time. The initial 1986 class only had two women students. This increased to eight in 1987 and eventually exceeded 20 female students a few years later. The curriculum included both theoretical courses (covering education, art history, and criticism) and practical courses focused on various art forms (drawing, painting, ceramics, design).

A member of the ruling family, Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali Al Thani, has been an instrumental figure in developing Qatar's modern art industry since the 1980s.{{Cite web |title=Public Art in Qatar - Hassan bin Mohammed Al Thani {{!}} Qatar Creates |url=https://www.qacreates.com/en/experiences/public-art/hassan-bin-mohammed-al-thani |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=www.qacreates.com |language=en}} Among his art-related activities was establishing his own museum which doubled as a residency space for Doha-based artists in 1994, and establishing the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in 2010 to which he donated his entire art collection, which he had begun assembling in 1986.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6swDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA165|title=Art and the Global Economy|publisher=University of California Press|author=John Zarobell|page=165|year=2017|isbn=9780520291539}}

In 1998, Department of Culture and Arts was integrated into the newly established National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.{{cite web|url=http://www.qatarconsulatela.org/about-qatar/culture-arts/|title=Culture & Arts|publisher=Consulate General of the State of Qatar|access-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722013612/http://www.qatarconsulatela.org/about-qatar/culture-arts/|archive-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

The early 2000s saw a significant increase in female artistic talent in Qatar. Many women artists, such as Nadia Al-Mudihki, Amal Al-Atham, and Hanadi Darwish, assumed leadership roles in art centers. Hanadi Darwish, for example, is a plastic artist who became the chairwoman of the Girls Creativity Center, which is under the supervision Ministry of Youth. These centers provided emerging women artists with opportunities for artistic development through various training centers and international courses.

When a quartet comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed all ties with and imposed a blockade of Qatar on 5 June 2017,{{Cite news |date=2017-06-06 |title=Qatar crisis: What you need to know |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40173757 |access-date=2023-01-25}} Qatari artist Ahmed Al-Maadheed created an illustration known as Tamim Almajd (2017), which translates to "Tamim the Glorious". A simple black and white sketch of Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, beneath which is the text "Tamim Almajd" in the style of Arabic calligraphy, the illustration has become symbolic of Qatari nationalism. During the diplomatic spat, the image was displayed prominently on buildings, in media and art in Qatar.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/tamim-the-glorious-enthrals-qatar/article19421398.ece|title='Tamim the Glorious' enthrals Qatar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 August 2017|access-date=23 August 2018|agency=Agence France-Presse}}

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Upon Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani's accession to the throne in 1972, he drew up plans for a national museum in order to document the country's heritage and traditions. It was decided that the building would enclose the Old Amiri Palace, a dilapidated early-20th century palace previously occupied by Qatar's former emir, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebusinessyear.com/qatar-2014/wherefore-art-thou-qatar/focus|title=Wherefore Art Thou Qatar?|publisher=The Business Year|date=2014|access-date=16 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308012017/https://thebusinessyear.com/qatar-2014/wherefore-art-thou-qatar/focus|archive-date=8 March 2016}} Originally named the Qatar National Museum, it was inaugurated on 23 June 1975.{{cite web|author1=Mohammed Hassan Al-Kuwari|author2=Maryam Khulaifi|author3=Jamila Abdulla Ahmed|author4=Sawsan Al-Haddad|url=http://www.moc.gov.qa/Arabic/publications/Documents/%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9.pdf|title=دليـل المؤسسات الثقافية في قطر (Directory of Cultural Institutions in Qatar)|publisher=Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage|language=ar|year=2013|page=12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111458/http://www.moc.gov.qa/Arabic/publications/Documents/%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9.pdf|archive-date=2015-12-22}} This museum was replaced by another similarly named museum, the National Museum of Qatar, built on the same site and opened on 28 March 2019. The building was designed by architect Jean Nouvel who was inspired by the desert rose crystal, which can be found in Qatar.{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jim |title=The 20 photographs of the week |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/mar/30/the-20-photographs-of-the-week |website=The Guardian |accessdate=16 June 2024 |date=30 March 2019}}

Qatar Museums was established in 2005 to oversee the construction and maintenance of all museums and collections in Qatar.{{cite web|url=https://qm.org.qa/en/about-us/|title=About us|publisher=Qatar Museums|accessdate=3 May 2024}} Two major museums lead the institution: the Museum of Islamic Art opened in 2008,{{Cite web |last=Lomholt |first=Isabelle |date=2022-11-23 |title=Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Qatar |url=https://www.e-architect.com/qatar/museum-of-islamic-art-doha-qatar |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=e-architect |language=en-gb}} and the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, opened in Education City by Qatar Foundation in 2010.{{Cite web |last=McManus |first=David |date=2010-09-29 |title=Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Qatar |url=https://www.e-architect.com/qatar/mathaf-arab-museum-modern-art |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=e-architect |language=en-gb}}

At the 2022 Doha Forum, Qatar Museum's Chairperson, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, revealed plans for a further three museums:{{Cite web |date=2022-03-28 |title=Qatar Reveals Ambitious Plans for Three New Cultural Institutions |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/qatar-reveals-ambitious-plans-for-three-new-cultural-institutions-88311 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www.artforum.com |language=en-US}} The first, the Art Mill, located on the site of a historic flour mill, a centre designed by Alejandro Aravena of Elemental,{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=How to turn a flour mill into a world-class museum: architect Alejandro Aravena on his mammoth Qatar project |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/12/13/how-to-turn-a-flour-mill-into-a-world-class-museum-architect-alejandro-aravena-on-his-mammoth-qatar-project |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=The Art Newspaper - International art news and events}} will accommodate presentation facilities for artistic media and for present day art, as well as spaces for educational activities and internship programs, workrooms, a centre for the cultural industries of Qatar, the Dhow Centre, as well as gardens. The second, the Lusail Museum, designed by architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron,{{Cite web |title=OMA, Herzog & de Meuron and ELEMENTAL to design three major new museums in Qatar |url=https://worldarchitecture.org/article-links/emmhc/oma-herzog-de-meuron-and-elemental-to-design-three-major-new-museums-in-qatar.html |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=World Architecture Community |language=en}} a museum of more than 52,000 square meters will comprise different cultural spaces and accommodate the world's most extensive exhibition of orientalist art. The third newly proposed museum, the Qatar Auto Museum, will feature permanent galleries centered around the automobile and its development in Qatar.{{Cite web |last=Kinsella |first=Eileen |date=2022-03-28 |title=Qatar Announces It Will Build the World's Largest Museum of Orientalist Art Along With Two Other Starchitect-Designed Institutions |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/qatar-plans-three-major-new-museums-2090743 |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}}

File:Steps of tapestry in the Qatar National Museum.jpg

Weaving and dyeing played a substantial role in Bedouin culture.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-02 |title=Bedouin women face-to-face with patriarchal culture |url=https://yourmiddleeast.com/2012/10/02/bedouin-women-face-to-face-with-patriarchal-culture/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Your Middle East |language=en-US}} The process of spinning sheep's and camel's wool to produce cloth was laborious. The wool was first disentangled and tied to a bobbin, which would serve as a core and keep the fibers rigid. This was followed by spinning the wool by hand on a spindle known as a noul.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 135 They were then placed on a vertical loom constructed from wood whereupon women would use a stick to beat the weft into place.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 136

The resulting cloths were used in rugs, carpets, and tents. Tents were usually made up of naturally colored cloth, whereas rugs and carpets used dyed cloth, mainly red and yellow. The dyes were made from desert herbs, with simple geometrical designs being employed. The art lost popularity in the 19th century as dyes and cloth were increasingly imported from other regions in Asia.

File:Embroidered dresses in Souq Waqif.jpg

A simple form of embroidery practiced by Qatari women was known as kurar. It involved four women, each carrying four threads, who braided the threads on articles of clothing, mainly thawbs or abayas. The braids, varying in color, were sewn vertically. It was similar to heavy chain stitch embroidery. Gold threads, known as zari, were commonly used. They were usually imported from India.A. Abu Saud (1984), p. 137

Another type of embroidery involved the designing of caps called gohfiahs. They were made from cotton and were pierced with thorns from palm trees to allow the women to sew between the holes. This form of embroidery declined in popularity after the country began importing the caps.

Khiyat al madrasa, translated as 'school embroidery', involved the stitching of furnishings by satin stitching. Prior to the stitching process, a shape was drawn onto the fabric by a skilled artist. The most common designs were birds and flowers.

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{{Main|Architecture of Qatar}}

File:Ath Thaqab Fort.jpg Fort]]

The numerous forts found throughout the Qatari peninsula are a testament to the country's ancient construction methods.{{cite web|url=http://www.qm.org.qa/en/project/forts-qatar|title=Forts in Qatar|publisher=Qatar Museums|access-date=21 July 2015}} Most forts were constructed using mainly limestone, with other constituents such as mud and clay brick also being used. A type of mixture consisting of mud and clay brick known locally as lubnah was sometimes used in the construction of forts, such as in Ar Rakiyat Fort.The Syriac Writers of Qatar in the Seventh Century (2014), p. 32

Most traditional houses in the capital Doha were tightly packed and arranged around a central courtyard. Some rooms were situated in the courtyard, most often including a majilis, bathroom and store room. The houses were made from limestone quarried from local sources. Walls surrounding the compounds were made up of compressed mud, gravel, and small stones. As they were heavily susceptible to natural erosion, they were protected by gypsum plaster. Mangrove poles wrapped in jute rope provided structural support for the windows and doors.{{cite web|url=https://originsofdoha.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/traditional-domestic-architecture-of-qatar/|title=Traditional domestic architecture of Qatar|publisher=Origins of Doha|date=15 February 2015|access-date=21 July 2015}}

File:Traditional Qatari houses in Al Wakrah.jpg Heritage Village]]

Roofs were typically flat and were supported by mangrove poles. The poles were covered with a layer of split bamboo and a palm mat locally called manghrour. The mangrove poles often extended past the exterior walls for decorative purposes. Doors were made of metal or wood. Colored glass employing geometrical designs was sometimes used in windows. The local architecture shows the use of the reddish stone of Qatar, as well as little use of wood due to the scarcity of resources in the region.

Several methods were used in traditional architecture to alleviate the harsh climate of the country. Windows were seldom used in order to reduce heat conduction. The badgheer construction method allowed air to be channeled into houses for ventilation purposes. This was accomplished by several methods, including horizontal air gaps in rooms and parapets, and vertical openings in wind towers called hawaya which drew air into the courtyards. Wind towers, however, were not as common in Doha as they were in other parts of the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.catnaps.org/islamic/gulfarch4.html|title=Gulf architecture|publisher=catnaps.org|access-date=21 July 2015}}

Shortly after Qatar gained independence, many of the districts of old Doha, including Al Najada, Al Asmakh, and Old Al Hitmi, faced gradual decline, and as a result, much of their historical architecture has been demolished.{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/7412457|title=Al Asmakh historic district in Doha, Qatar: from an urban slum to living heritage|issue=1|pages=1–14|journal=Journal of Architectural Conservation|volume=20|author=Djamel Bouassa|access-date=10 July 2015}} A number of schemes have been taken to preserve the city's cultural and architectural heritage, such as the Qatar Museums Authority's 'Al Turath al Hai' ('living heritage') initiative.{{cite web|url=http://marhaba.qa/the-winners-of-the-old-doha-prize-competition-announced/|title=The Winners of the Old Doha Prize Competition Announced|publisher=Marhaba|date=26 November 2013|access-date=10 July 2015}}

Qatar in the past two decades has pinpointed its place on the world map with prominent global landmarks including Education City which showcases architecture from numerous architects including Rem Koolhaas who designed the Qatar National Library during 2018 and the Qatar Foundation headquarters back in 2014.{{Cite book|title=Education city : building foundations for the future|date=2014|publisher=Qatar Foundation, Capital Projects Directorate|author=Jodidio, Philip.|isbn=9788416142361|location=Doha|oclc=899565075}}

Among Qatar's notable architects is Japanese architect Arata Isozaki who contributed towards designing countless buildings in Education City, including the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), the Liberal Arts and Science Building (LAS) and the Qatar Foundation Ceremonial Court.

Qatar's art initiatives have expanded tremendously in recent years with the opening of massive great projects including the Doha Fire Station which exhibits art at the heart of the city.{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitqatar.qa/|title=Visit Qatar {{!}} Discover a Unique Destination|website=www.visitqatar.qa|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}}

Arts and museums have played a pivotal role in improving Qatar's tourism and inviting people to understand Qatar's history and heritage with the openings of the National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Msheireb Museums and the Museum of Islamic Arts.

Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has played a significant role in bringing art to Qatar,{{Cite web |date=2022-11-01 |title=HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, is the Guest Editor of the November 2022 Issue of Vogue Arabia |url=https://en.vogue.me/culture/november-2022-sheikha-al-mayassa-al-thani-chairperson-qatar-museums-guest-editor-nadia-nadim-naomi-campbell/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Vogue Arabia |language=en-GB}} particularly with the latest art installations at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) showcasing pieces of work by numerous global artists in collaboration with Qatar Museums Authority.{{Cite book|title=Butt, Hamad|last=Falconer|first=Morgan|date=2002-04-30|publisher=Oxford University Press|series=Oxford Art Online|doi = 10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t097571}}

Under the guidance of the CEO of Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser,{{Cite web |title=Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser {{!}} Qatar Foundation |url=https://www.qf.org.qa/about/profile/her-highness-sheikha-moza-bint-nasser |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.qf.org.qa |language=en}} Education City has become a home for modernistic buildings originating from worldwide architects contributing to the building of schools, universities, offices, and accommodations for the community.{{Cite web |title=Explore Qatar's Education City |url=https://www.qf.org.qa/education/education-city |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.qf.org.qa |language=en}}

In Education City:

• Qatar National Convention Center (2011) designed by Arata Isozaki{{Cite web |date=2013-09-10 |title=Qatar National Convention Centre / Arata Isozaki |url=https://www.archdaily.com/425521/qatar-national-convention-centre-arata-isozaki |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}}
• Qatar Foundation Ceremonial Court (2007) designed by Arata Isozaki{{Cite web |title=Ceremonial Court and the Ceremonial Green Spine |url=https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/highlights/iconic-places/ceremonial-court-and-the-ceremonial-green-spine |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=visitqatar.com |language=en}}
• Qatar Foundation Headquarters (2014) designed by Rem Koolhaas{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-11-08 |title=QF Conversation: Rem Koolhaas |url=https://medium.com/qatar-foundation/qf-conversation-rem-koolhaas-86eb7915c162 |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Qatar Foundation |language=en}}
• Northwestern University in Qatar (2017) designed by Antoine Predock{{Cite web |date=2014-12-12 |title=HBKU Carnegie Mellon / Legorreta + Legorreta |url=https://www.archdaily.com/571688/hbku-carnegie-mellon-legorreta-legorreta |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}}
• Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (2008) designed by Ricardo Legorreta and Victor Legorreta{{Cite web |title=Home in Qatar - Carnegie Mellon University {{!}} CMU |url=https://www.cmu.edu/homepage/society/2009/winter/qatar-building.shtml |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www.cmu.edu}}
• Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (1998) designed by Mimar Consult{{Cite web |last=Bonilla |first=Leslie |title=Pearls, Souqs and Daggers: Inside the Hidden Elements of Education City Architecture |url=https://thedailyq.org/10104/features/pearls-souqs-and-daggers-inside-the-hidden-elements-of-education-city-architecture/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=The Daily Q}}
• Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (2003) designed by Arata Isozaki{{Cite web |title=The Building {{!}} Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar |url=https://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/our-story/weill-cornell-medicine-qatar/the-building |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=qatar-weill.cornell.edu}}
• Liberal Arts and Science building (2004) designed by Arata Isozaki{{Cite web |title=Liberal Arts and Science Building, Doha Qatar |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/6106 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www.archnet.org}}
• Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar (2010) designed by Ricardo Legorreta and Victor Legorreta{{Cite web |date=2018-11-05 |title=Georgetown University / LEGORRETA |url=https://www.archdaily.com/904875/georgetown-university-legorreta |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}}
• Texas A&M University in Qatar (2007) designed by Ricardo Legorreta and Victor Legorreta{{Cite web |title=Texas A&M Engineering Building |url=https://www.qatar.tamu.edu/about/a-and-m-building |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www.qatar.tamu.edu}}
• Qatar Academy (1997) designed by Al Seed Consultant and Design Studio
• Awsaj Academy (2011) designed by James Cubitt and Partners
• Qatar Science and Technology Park (2009) designed by Woods Bagot{{Cite web |date=2013-07-31 |title=Qatar / Woods Bagot |url=https://www.archdaily.com/409014/qatar-woods-bagot |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}}
• Strategic Studies Center (2014), also known as Think Bay designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
• Qatar National Library (2018) designed by Rem Koolhaas{{Cite web |title=Our Building {{!}} Qatar National Library |url=https://www.qnl.qa/en/about/the-library-building |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.qnl.qa}}
• Sidra Medical and Research Center (2017) designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects{{Cite web |date=2019-05-02 |title=Sidra Medical and Research Center / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects |url=https://www.archdaily.com/916198/sidra-medical-and-research-center-pelli-clarke-pelli-architects |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}}
• Al Shaqab (2019) designed by Leigh & Orange Architects{{Cite web |title=Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy |url=https://www.leighorange.com/project/al-shaqab-equestrian-academy/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Leigh & Orange Architects |language=en-US}}
• Student Center (2012) designed by Ricardo Legorreta and Victor Legorreta
• Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (2014) designed by Mangera Yvars Architects{{Cite web |title=Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies by Mangera Yvars Architects {{!}} Universities |url=https://www.architonic.com/en/project/mangera-yvars-architects-qatar-faculty-of-islamic-studies/5105543 |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Architonic |language=en}}
• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (2010) designed by Jean-Francois Bodin{{Cite web |title=Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art |url=https://universes.art/en/nafas/articles/2010/mathaf |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=universes.art |language=en-US}}

File:Qatar foundation mosque.jpg|Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies designed by Mangera Yvars Architects

File:Nuq nuq Qatar.jpg|Northwestern University in Qatar designed by Antoine Predock

File:Qf hq.jpg|Qatar Foundation Headquarters designed by Rem Koolhaas

File:Lmlm.jpg|Qatar National Library designed by Rem Koolhaas

File:Jebel Jassassiyeh rock carvings.jpg depicting a boat]]

Ancient rock carvings have been discovered in eight separate locations in Qatar: Jebel Jassassiyeh, Jebel Fuwayrit, Freiha, Al Ghariyah, Al Jumail, Simaisma, Al Wakrah and Al Qassar. Most of these sites were discovered by Danish archaeological teams in the 1950s and 1960s.Abdul Nayeem (1998), p. 220. The carvings are classified in several categories, including human and animal representation, boat representation, cup-marks, large cavities, geometric designs, tribal marks, and hand- and footprints.Abdul Nayeem (1998), p. 231.

A large number of rock carvings were discovered in Jebel Jassassiyeh, in northeast Qatar, in 1961. Variations in motifs and techniques indicate that the carvings were made through various historical periods.Abdul Nayeem (1998), p. 221. Cup marks are the most common forms of art among the nearly 900 carvings. Other carvings include ships, animals, foot-prints and tribal marks (known as wasum).{{cite journal|last=Bibby|first=Geoffrey|title=Arabian Gulf archaeology|journal=Kuml|year=1965|page=104}} Different animals are depicted, such as ostriches, turtles, and fish. A large number of the carvings illustrate boats, and this is the only site in Qatar where boat depictions have been recorded. The boats are of different sizes and types, and some contain oars while others do not.Abdul Nayeem (1998), p. 233.

Geometrical designs were recorded at Freiha in four places. They measure 11 to 15 cm in width and 11 to 12 cm in height. Danish archaeologist Peter Glob believed that they were carved by an ancient fertility cult.Abdul Nayeem (1998), p. 256.{{cite journal|last=Glob|first=Peter|title=Prehistoric discoveries in Qatar|journal=Kuml|year=1957|page=176}} This theory was disputed by Muhammad Abdul Nayeem, who believes that they are simply abstract symbols or tribal marks.

• Jassim Zaini, probably the most important Qatari artist, founding the modern movement
• Faraj Daham, a Qatari artist and founding member of the Qatari Fine Arts Society,{{cite web|url=http://www.qma.com.qa/exhibitions/mallawal/index.php/en/faraj-daham|title=Faraj Daham|publisher=Qatar Museums Authority|access-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427071845/http://www.qma.com.qa/exhibitions/mallawal/index.php/en/faraj-daham|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=dead}} his work addresses social and political topics in painting and installation, often using recycled material and raw material
• Yousef Ahmad, a Qatari painter, art collector and author{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.mathaf.org/en/bios/Pages/Yousef-Ahmad.aspx|title=Biography of Yousef Ahmad|publisher=Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World|last=Touati|first=Samia|access-date=21 July 2015}}
• Wafika Sultan Al-Essa, the first professional Qatari female artist{{cite web|url=https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/whosWho/whos-who-qatars-pioneer-of-modern-art-wafika-sultan-saif-al-essa|title=Qatar's pioneer of modern art Wafika Sultan Saif Al-Essa|publisher=ILoveQatar.net|accessdate=15 June 2024}}
• Salman Al-Malik, a Qatari artist{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/arts/07iht-scdoha07.html?_r=0|title=Qatar Looks to Balance Its Arts Scene|work=The New York Times|author=Nicolai Hartvig|date=6 January 2012|access-date=30 November 2015}}
• Hassan Al Mulla, a Qatari surrealist painter{{cite book|title=Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLvWAAAAMAAJ|publisher=The Academy|year=2003|isbn = 9789845550277|quote=Al-Mulla is the best known Qatari artist who took Surrealism as a method of expression.}}

• Culture of Qatar
• Public art in Qatar
• Collecting practices of the Al-Thani Family
• Rock art in Qatar
• Qatari literature

• Museum of Islamic Art, Doha
• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite book|last=Abdul Nayeem|first=Muhammad|title=Qatar Prehistory and Protohistory from the Most Ancient Times (Ca. 1,000,000 to End of B.C. Era)|publisher=Hyderabad Publishers|year=1998|isbn=9788185492049}}
• {{cite book|last=Abu Saud|first=Abeer|title=Qatari Women: Past and Present|publisher=Longman Group United Kingdom|date=1984|isbn=978-0582783720}}
• {{cite book|last1=Kozah|first1=Mario|last2=Abu-Husayn|first2=Abdulrahim|author2link=Abdulrahim Abu-Husayn|last3=Al-Murikhi|first3=Saif Shaheen|last4=Al-Thani|first4=Haya|title=The Syriac Writers of Qatar in the Seventh Century|publisher=Gorgias Press LLC|year=2014|edition=print|isbn=978-1463203559}}

{{Qatar topics}}

{{Asia topic|Art of}}

{{Asian topic|| art}}

Category:Art by country