Allen Whitehill Clowes Special Exhibition Gallery

Bowl with Animals, Iran (Kashan), 13th century, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Emma Harter Sweetser Fund.

Historically, the arts of Islam cover a wide geographical area—from Spain to Indonesia—and includes an extensive ethnic, racial, linguistic, and cultural diversity. Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture explores an Islamic way of thinking, a way of seeing the world, and a way of being through visual expression. Sociological, mythical, and philosophical themes across Islamic culture are explored in effort to bring about an understanding of its people. The exhibition will feature more than 250 objects of various media, including metalwork, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, woodcarvings, carpets, and textiles.