A major exhibition celebrating two decades of contemporary Islamic art has opened at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, marking the North American debut of As the Sun Appears from Beyond: Twenty Years of the Al Burda Award. The groundbreaking showcase features more than 60 works and stems from a unique collaboration between the Aga Khan Museum and the UAE Ministry of Culture.
Following its premiere at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in December 2024, the exhibition officially opened on June 14, 2025. It draws together classical and contemporary works—ranging from Arabic calligraphy and abstract painting to digital installations and poetic audio experiences—that reflect both spiritual introspection and bold modern expression.
The exhibition not only marks the 20th anniversary of the Al Burda Award, the UAE’s leading platform for contemporary Islamic art, but also celebrates the Aga Khan Museum’s 10th anniversary. Visitors are invited to explore themes of light (Al-Noor), intercultural understanding, and aesthetic beauty through carefully curated dialogues between contemporary artworks and historical pieces from the museum’s collections.
The show is co-curated by the inaugural cohort of Al Burda Fellows: Fatma Mahmoud, Sara bin Safwan, and Shaikha Al Zaabi. As part of their fellowship, the Emirati curators spent a residency at the Aga Khan Museum in July 2024, where they engaged with museum professionals and developed the exhibition narrative.
“The collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Culture and its three exceptional Al Burda Fellows has been an honour and a joy,” said Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum. “This exhibition is more than a presentation of art—it is a platform for empathy, connection, and mutual understanding.”
The exhibition has been praised for its storytelling approach, which emphasizes inclusivity and emotional resonance. The artworks—spanning multiple genres and disciplines—reflect a broad spectrum of Islamic artistic traditions reimagined for the contemporary era. Among the highlights are a poetry listening station, interactive workshops, and visually striking calligraphic compositions that bridge past and present.
The initiative is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the museum and the UAE Ministry of Culture in December 2023. The agreement seeks to expand educational and artistic opportunities for young creatives, particularly in the fields of museology and curatorial practice, through mentorship, residencies, and cultural exchange.
H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, remarked, “This exhibition not only highlights the rich legacy of the Al Burda Award but also demonstrates the potential of cultural diplomacy and artistic collaboration to build a more inclusive global creative community.”
The exhibition is accompanied by a full public program featuring lectures, performances, and workshops themed around Arabic calligraphy, Islamic geometry, and spiritual poetry. Visitors can expect to be immersed in both the visual and experiential dimensions of Islamic art and its ongoing evolution.
As the Sun Appears from Beyond runs at The Aga Khan Museum through autumn 2025.
