Redefining the global discourse on Islamic arts

Set beneath the vast canopy of the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, the Islamic Arts Biennale, delivered by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, brings together historic artefacts and contemporary works to explore what Islamic art means today – and how it continues to evolve. Across two editions, Barker Langham supported the Diriyah Biennale Foundation to help realise a platform of international ambition and cultural significance.

The inaugural edition, Awwal Bait (2023), took as its theme the idea of the “First House” – a reflection on belonging, ritual, and the Ka‘bah as a point of origin. The second, And All That Is In Between (2025), expanded the lens, exploring creation, complexity, and the spaces between binaries. Both editions juxtaposed historic masterpieces with new art commissions, inviting audiences to experience Islamic culture not as fixed heritage, but as a living and generative tradition.

Barker Langham supported the curatorial and creative teams, contributing to the overarching narrative of each edition, collaborating on the curatorial plan and interpretive structure. Our role involved ensuring curatorial clarity, spatial coherence, and conceptual depth – ultimately supporting the Diriyah Biennale Foundation to create exhibitions that invited contemplation, connection, and dialogue.

The first edition foregrounded newly commissioned work, with over 80 contemporary artists exploring what it means to live as a Muslim today – through daily rituals, life events, and expressions of identity and connection. Barker Langham helped manage the commissioning process – liaising with artists, supporting production, and overseeing delivery. This emphasis on lived experience and contemporary expression positioned the Biennale as a vital new voice in the global art world.

The second edition expanded its scope significantly, presenting over 500 historical objects alongside 29 contemporary commissions. A standout inclusion was the full Kiswah – the cloth that adorns the Ka‘bah – exhibited in its entirety for the first time outside of Makkah, a moment of quiet reverence and awe at the heart of the exhibition.

Loans from more than 30 institutions reflected a wide-ranging curatorial approach. These included rare works from the Vatican Apostolic Library, among them a 17th-century map of the Nile measuring nearly six metres in length, and early Latin translations of the Qur’an. A 1928 film by Dutch East Indian filmmaker George Krugers documented the journey of Indonesian Muslims to Makkah, the first film of the Hajj ever recorded. Collections from across the Islamic world were represented, including key contributions from Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Mali.

These loans were presented in carefully composed galleries that brought together manuscripts, textiles, scientific instruments, and sacred objects. Rather than isolating artefacts by region or period, the exhibition encouraged close, considered encounters – allowing visitors to engage with the material culture of Islamic life across diverse regions and historical moments.

Behind the scenes, delivery depended on close coordination between artists, lenders, institutions and collections teams. Barker Langham supported this process helping with key administrative and logistical steps across loans and commissions, and providing additional coordination during installation where needed. This support included assisting with the practical requirements of international loans, liaising with lenders to meet institutional processes, and helping maintain curatorial consistency as the exhibition was brought together on site.

Immediately establishing itself as a landmark cultural event, the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 attracted over 600,000 visitors – placing it among the most attended art events worldwide that year. The 2025 edition expanded on this achievement, reinforcing the Biennale’s role as a major platform for Islamic arts.

The impact on visitors was profound. A common thread was the deep sense of connection and discovery reported by attendees.

The Biennale also served as a powerful catalyst for inter-institutional collaboration. Partnerships with leading local and international organisations – including the King Abdulaziz Waqf Libraries Assembly, Louvre Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Vatican Apostolic Library – have laid the groundwork for ongoing cultural and scholarly exchange.

“A must-attend on the global art schedule… a celebration of faith and culture”

The National Newspaper (UAE)

“Refined, serene, provocative”

Wallpaper

“The world's foremost platform for Islamic arts”

Vogue Arabia