Islamic Crafts on Display

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The Islamic Conference in Saudi Arabia began yesterday and will showcase three major exhibitions capturing the arts and crafts of Saudi Arabia

Islamic crafts made a splash at the second edition of the Islamic Art Conference DHAHRAN in Saudi Arabia which began yesterday. Ithra opens the second edition of the Islamic Art Conference from November 25–30. In conjunction with the opening, Ithra will also launch 3 major exhibitions, including The Continuation of a Craft: Saudi Traditional Costumes.

Titled In Praise of the Artisan: A Reassessment of Contemporary Islamic Arts & Crafts Practice, the two-day conference will feature ten symposia covering key topics including the role of tradition in modern Islamic art and insightful discussions on the social impact of Islamic craft today.

In attendance at the opening ceremony, held in Ithra’s Theater, were high-level officials, researchers of Islamic art and history, industry experts and academics from all over the world, with a keynote speech by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture.

The conference explores the evolving landscape of Islamic arts and crafts across the Arab world, bringing together over 50 participants, including 27 speakers from more than 13 countries. This gathering celebrates the vibrant continuity of Islamic artistic traditions and the contributions of contemporary artisans working to preserve this heritage.

In Praise of the Artisan Exhibition

The exhibition will focus on diverse artistry, from ceramics, pottery, and textiles to woodworking, carving, metalwork, and innovative contemporary pieces.

With a focus on both historical and contemporary works, there are masterpieces on display from renowned collections such as the al-Sabah Collection at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah and the Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait, alongside Ithra’s own Islamic art collection.

Curated by Idries Threvethan, Curator of Islamic Art at Ithra, the exhibition showcases over 130 works arranged by material and craft and features multiple pieces that have never been publicly displayed, including an 18th-century wooden interior from Damascus and the sacred 20th-century Kiswa cloth from the Ka’ba.

Also on display are specially commissioned pieces, among which the largest hand-carved stone screen created since the Taj Mahal in the 17th century (2024). These include large-scale installations, rare artifacts, and works by master artisans from various regions, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Malaysia.

Offering a multi-sensory and immersive experience, In Praise of the Artisan, creates an interactive environment that emphasizes the importance of keeping crafting traditions alive, demonstrating how these continue to resonate and adapt within contemporary society.

Curator Idries Trevathan says: “The In Praise of the Artisan exhibition is a celebration of Islamic arts and crafts, highlighting their diverse influences and evolving traditions. Our hope is to inspire further exploration of Islamic crafts, fostering a deeper understanding of how these artistic traditions connect across regions while captivating audiences with their beauty and historical importance. For us, it is vital to view Islamic art as a living tradition that strengthens ties between craftspeople and their communities, enriching appreciation for historical collections and contemporary practice”.

The Continuation of a Craft: Saudi Traditional Costumes, 25 November - 23 August 2025

The Continuation of a Craft: Saudi Traditional Costumes is dedicated to the craftsmanship and historical significance of traditional Saudi costumes and jewelry, presenting a fascinating story of how imported and local materials were combined to create vibrant pieces.

Curated by Kostantinos Chatziantoniou, Head of Collection Management, Registration, and Conservation of Artwork at Ithra Museum, the exhibition includes original pieces of male and female clothing from different regions of Saudi Arabia and contemporary copies of original Saudi costumes from the past decade lent by the Mansoojat Foundation. Alongside these works Saudi contemporary fashion designers will be on display, bridging the past and present while celebrating the artisans’ mastery and the influence of Saudi cultural heritage. The exhibition also showcases a series of traditional garments from the Ithra collection and Islamic jewelry, including pieces from Serafy Foundation and Dar Al Funoon Islamiya Foundation’s collection. The exhibition is further enriched with research papers from Dr. Laila Al Bassam, a leading expert on Saudi Arabian heritage, offering in-depth context to the designs on display.

Highlights include: 

  • A collection of both original and replica traditional Saudi costumes that showcase the design variations across all regions of Saudi Arabia.
  • Pieces by leading contemporary Saudi designers such as Yousef Akbar and Honayde Serafy, whose work is inspired by the Kingdom’s rich heritage.
  • A distinctive dress by Shahd AlShehail who infuses Saudi history into her dressmaking by incorporating date seeds into her embroidery.
  • A diverse collection of Islamic jewellery from the Serafy and Dar Al Funoon Islamiya Foundations which examines the intricate designs of jewellery throughout the Kingdom. 

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