'Uzbekistan: Heritage In Motion' Exhibition Opens At MIA

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM), in collaboration with the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) and in partnership with Visit Qatar, has opened 'Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion' at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).

On view through November 28, 2026, the exhibition brings together 146 objects drawn from MIA, other Qatari collections, and 13 institutions across Uzbekistan, inviting visitors to experience more than 1,000 years of artistic and craft traditions from across Central Asia.

Celebrating the growing cultural exchange between Qatar and Uzbekistan, the exhibition presents historical works alongside contemporary works, fashion, and immersive installations, exploring centuries of artistic and intellectual exchange while revealing how Uzbekistan's artistic traditions continue to shape art, architecture, and craft today.

Director of the Museum of Islamic Art Shaika Al-Nassr said,“At MIA, we don't just display history, we get to share the heartbeat of a civilization with the world. Alongside our colleagues at ACDF, we're honored to bring 13 centuries of Uzbekistan's artistry to Doha, alongside treasures from Qatar's own collections, in an exhibition that is really a testament to friendship between our two nations. We hope it moves every visitor the way it moved us, and reminds them that the past is never truly past.”

Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation Gayane Umerova said,“Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion isn't just an exhibition, it's a statement about where our partnership with Qatar is heading.

This goes far beyond the usual cooperation. It's craft, heritage, restoration, cultural exchange, and a genuine respect between our two nations, all in one room. Consider this the next chapter of a friendship built to last.”

Visitors first encounter the section Beyond the River, named for Mā warā al-nahr, the historic Arabic term for the lands beyond the River Oxus that crosses Uzbekistan. A monumental seventh-century wall painting from the Ambassadors' Hall at Afrasiab, among the most significant surviving works of Sogdian art, are on view for the first time in Qatar. They are presented alongside a silk jacket from MIA's collection whose woven motifs echo the robes of the painted envoys, drawing a direct visual connection between object and image.

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