Doha: The world’s first museum dedicated to the life, works and philosophy of renowned modernist artist MF Husain will open in Qatar’s capital city on November 28, the Qatar Foundation announced on Wednesday.
Titled “Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum”, the institution will chronicle Husain’s artistic journey from the 1950s until his death in 2011, showcasing his evolution across multiple disciplines.
One of the highlights will be “Seeroo fi al ardh”, Husain’s final large-scale installation conceived as a 20-minute immersive show. The museum will also feature a permanent collection of paintings, films, tapestries, photography, poetry and installations, presented through multimedia storytelling to capture the artist’s influences and philosophy.
Among the key works on display will be a series of paintings inspired by Arab civilization, commissioned by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation. Husain completed more than 35 of these works before his death, and they will occupy a central space in the museum’s galleries.
The building itself, covering more than 3,000 square meters, is based on an architectural sketch by Husain, designed as an extension of his artistic practice and reflecting his lifelong pursuit of experimentation.
“Maqbool Fida Husain was one of the world’s most legendary modernists, an artist whose vision emerged from and resonated across different cultures, including here in Qatar, where he lived and practiced during his life,” said Kholoud M Al-Ali, executive director of Community Engagement and Programming at Qatar Foundation. “It is an honor to present his work within a dedicated museum of this scale — a space where audiences can engage deeply with his life, his art, and his enduring global legacy.”
Husain, who spent his final years between London and Doha, was granted honorary Qatari nationality in 2010.