Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art will present Wafa al-Hamad: Sites of Imagination, the first comprehensive museum exhibition to look at the 40-year career of the pioneering Qatari artist, educator, and designer Wafa al-Hamad (1964–2012). The exhibition features 23 works from the Mathaf Permanent Collection, encompassing a diverse range of mediums, including watercolour, oil painting, woodwork, and digital art, alongside archival materials.
Al-Hamad’s art integrates calligraphy, optical illusions, abstraction, and three-dimensional designs, crafting dreamlike realms where ancestral references intertwine with contemporary expressions. The exhibition delves into the global influences of modern art and abstraction that informed the artist’s vision. It also examines the Qatari and Gulf traditions that shaped al-Hamad’s art practice, highlighting her unique aesthetic philosophy.
The exhibition is curated by the guest curator Lina Ramadan.
Press release from Qatar Museums
Image: Wafa al-Hamad. Lailat Al Henaa (Henna Night). 1992. Oil on canvas. 91.5 x 122 cm. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums
