King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
artistic directors:
Amin Jaffer, Director of The Al Thani Collection
Julian Raby, Former Director of the National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institution
Abdulrahman Azzam, Senior Expert Advisor for AlMadar
Contemporary art curator:
Muhannad Shono, Saudi Artist, Contemporary Art Curator
Organised by:
Diriyah Biennale Foundation
And All That Is In Between: The Second Edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale. "Exploring Faith Through Feeling, Thinking, and Making" 2025 Edition
The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 provides a holistic platform for new discourse about Islamic arts, offering an unparalleled space for learning, research, and insight. By juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures, the Biennale explores how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated through feeling, thinking, and making.
"And All That Is In Between" is a phrase found repeatedly in the Quran: "And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between." This phrase captures the vast and awe-inspiring breadth of God’s creation as understood by humankind. The 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale draws upon this verse, offering a deep exploration of how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated. Spanning five exhibition halls and outdoor spaces, the Biennale presents over 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, encouraging visitors to reflect on the divine’s wonders and humanity's connection to it. In its second edition, the Islamic Arts Biennale has grown significantly, showcasing more works and a wider variety of participating institutions. This expansion solidifies the Biennale as a global center for Islamic arts, bringing together treasures from prestigious institutions around the world.