HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM), inaugurated two landmark exhibitions dedicated to the life and work of the world-renowned architect I. M. Pei, the visionary behind Doha’s iconic Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
The exhibitions — I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture at ALRIWAQ (in collaboration with M+ Hong Kong) and I. M. Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art: From Square to Octagon and Octagon to Circle at MIA — pay tribute to Pei’s extraordinary architectural legacy and his lasting impact on Qatar’s cultural identity.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Betty Fung, CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; HE Sheikha Reem Al-Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubayia Qatar at Qatar Museums; Shaika Nasser Al Nassr, Director of MIA; and Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, son of I. M. Pei and Partner at PEI Architects. Also present were co-curators Shirley Surya and Aric Chen, along with renowned architects, artists, and cultural leaders from around the world.
The exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture marks the first comprehensive retrospective of Pei’s life and work, featuring more than 400 original works, including architectural models, drawings, photographs, and films. Organised into six thematic sections, it highlights Pei’s cross-cultural approach and his influence on modern architecture through landmark projects such as the Grand Louvre in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha — his final masterpiece.
After acclaimed showings in Hong Kong (2024) and Shanghai (2025), the exhibition arrives in Doha, underscoring Pei’s global influence and his deep connection with Qatar’s architectural heritage.
At the Museum of Islamic Art, the companion exhibition I. M. Pei and the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art traces the architect’s creative process from his commission by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to the museum’s completion in 2008. Featuring sketches, early models, photographs, and archival materials — many displayed publicly for the first time — it explores Pei’s mission to capture the “essence of Islamic architecture” in a modern masterpiece.
Curated by Aurelien Lemonier and Zahra Khan in collaboration with Dr. Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, the exhibition unfolds across seven sections that chronicle the MIA’s design evolution and its enduring cultural significance.
Coinciding with both exhibitions, Qatar Museums has launched “Architecture and Design – Turning Vision Into a Universal Dialogue”, a public program platform promoting architectural exploration and exchange. The initiative includes talks, workshops, curator-led tours, and family activities designed to foster appreciation of architecture as a universal language connecting cultures, histories, and communities — a core principle embodied in Pei’s visionary work.
