Development of the Islamic Middle East Gallery, 2006

The Jameel Gallery

View of the Islamic Middle East gallery

The Jameel Gallery was officially opened on 18 July 2006, by HRH The Prince of Wales. The Jameel family gave the V&A a substantial donation to transform its Islamic Middle East gallery. The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art was dedicated to the memory of Mr Abdul Latif Jameel, the late founder of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, and his wife Nafisa, by Mohamed Abdul Latif Jameel, their son.

The displays explain how Islamic art developed from the great days of the Islamic caliphate in the 8th and 9th centuries AD. They encompass carved ivories from Islamic Spain, inlaid metalwork from medieval Egypt, Iznik ceramics from Ottoman Turkey, tilework from 14th-century Uzbekistan and oil paintings from 19th-century Iran.

Designer

The gallery designer was Softroom, who worked with a multidisciplinary team of museum professionals and consultants to develop a gallery with wide visitor appeal.

This development was completed as part of FuturePlan

FuturePlan is transforming the V&A by revitalising visitor facilities and redisplaying the collections. Using the best architects and designers, we are bringing the V&A into the 21st century and restoring modern design and innovation to the heart of the museum.