A folio from Khamsa Quintet or Panj Ganj book by Nizami (Laili and Majnon scene), Afghanistan or Iran, 16th century. Ink on paper, 23.2 × 13.97 cm. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Gift of Kirkor Minassian, 1921.440.

HARTFORD, CONN.- Through floral motifs, geometric patterns, calligraphy, and immersive video, Divine Geometry presents the artistic language of Islamic art through objects rarely seen by the public. Drawn mainly from the Wadsworth’s own collection, the exhibition features delicate miniatures, medieval Qurans, and ornate glassware from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Modern and contemporary acquisitions enhance the display, with key loans from partner institutions.

“We are immensely proud to open this exhibition curated by our Hartford Healthcare Fellow, Hamid Hemat. Hamid has single-handedly enabled us to interpret our holdings in Islamic art with greater depth of understanding than ever before. His discoveries will in part lead to a new installation of Islamic art in 2026. It is a joy to share this collection with the public, and we hope it will augment appreciation of the complex and beautiful artistic legacy of Islamic cultures from around the world,” said Jeffrey N. Brown, President and CEO of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Collecting Islamic Art at the Wadsworth

The Wadsworth began collecting Islamic art over a century ago with a bequest from Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt in 1905. Although the number of Islamic works in the Wadsworth’s collection is relatively small, the objects themselves more than compensate for quantity with quality and art historical significance. Important works from the ninth century onward speak to the geographic history of Islamic arts from Asia, Africa, and Europe. They represent a rich variety of media including manuscripts, tiles, metalwork, glass, textiles, and carvings. From a leaf of the oldest Quran in the U.S. to an animated projection, Divine Geometry spans more than a thousand years of Islamic creativity.

Curator Hamid Hemat escaped the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, where he had a thriving career protecting and promoting the art and artists of his homeland.

“I traveled 7,000 miles from Afghanistan, my home country, and now that I am here in Hartford, I have found this amazing collection,” said Hamid Hemat, Hartford Healthcare Fellow, “I hope our visitors will see that Islamic art is multifaceted, with each country embodying its own culture, language, and style. And ultimately, I hope this exhibition encourages a dialogue between very different cultures.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum is working with Connecticut artisans to host live demonstrations of Islamic calligraphy and ceramic-making to bring the public closer to the original techniques used to create the works on view. An accompanying publication offers insight into the Islamic arts collection at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

This miniature depicting figures from Persian mythology was painted on ivory, likely with a brush made from a single cat’s hair, in 18th or 19th-century Iran. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Underglaze-painted tile , late 19th century, Iran. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Nastaliq Calligraphy of Shah Mahmud Nishapuri , 16th century, Nishapur, Iran. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.