More than 250 items are on display at "Beauty and Belief," the MOA exhibit of Islamic art.

A new exhibit is on display at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art. “Beauty and Belief” brings together over 250 pieces of Islamic art. Brigham Young University is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormon Church“).

It is our hope that these works of art and the meaning and spirit they convey will enable our students, … Mormon and Muslim communities and people all across the nation to develop a greater understanding and shared sense of purpose and affinity one with another,” said Dr. Stephen Jones, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications.

The exhibit includes pieces from various lenders from a combination of 10 different countries, 42 institutions, and various private art collectors. Institutional lenders include the Dar al-Athar-al-Islamiyyah (DAI) museum in Kuwait (the largest lender), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Library of Morocco, the British Museum, and others.

It is the hope of the BYU Museum of Art and Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir (director of the traveling exhibit), that this Islamic art will help build bridges across cultures and faiths, celebrating the beauty of both the commonalities and differences across religious belief systems. “Beauty and Belief” will be at BYU MOA until September. For more information, see the website for Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture.