Museums across the UK are acquiring and exhibiting modern and contemporary art by artists from the Middle East and South Asia, whether living in the countries of their birth or in diaspora. There is also art made by artists in the UK and elsewhere, which connects to Islamic tradition in the broadest sense. Produced in a variety of media from works on paper to video art and installation, the subject matter is vibrant and wide ranging from artists inspired by Islamic calligraphy, to works which reflect the complexities of the histories and politics of the region today. This new and developing section of the SSN, is intended to reflect this exciting material, and the main museums where these collections are being made and housed.
Some examples of museums with collections of modern and contemporary art from the Middle East are shown below.
