Permanent Art Collection
About the collection
The Center’s permanent art collection offers a Shia- inspired interpretation of Islamic art while embracing a pluralistic ethos that reflects diverse religious and cultural perspectives. Organized around seven themes —Community and Belonging, Environment and Sustainability, Equity and Equality, Faith and Spirituality, Discovery and Wonder, Quality of Life, and Pluralism — the collection aspires to highlight shared human values and inspire thoughtful engagement.
Resonating with Houston’s iconic art spaces—such as James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace and the Rothko Chapel—the Center features works by artists such as Rana Begum, whose art captures the interplay of light, reflection, and meditative stillness in the urban landscape.
Rooted in post-structuralist abstraction, the collection encourages personal interpretation and critical engagement across generations. By balancing traditional artistic techniques with material innovation, it sparks discourse on heritage, spirituality, and contemporary artistic expression. Designed to remain relevant for future audiences, the collection invites ongoing reflection on faith, community, and the evolving role of art in shaping both collective and personal narratives.
Lines of Life
Fahim Somani
Book Bindings by Islam Aly
Islam Aly
Fatimid Water Filters
Fatimid Era
Life Line
Noor Ali Chagani
Nur-e Simurg, The Illuminated One
Shafina Jaffer
Surah Al-Fatiha
Ismail Gulgee (Abdul Mohammad Ismaili)
Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres
Salina Kassam
Awakening
Amal Lin
Nocturnal Journey
Ahmed Moustafa
Reflectors
Rana Begum
Open Your Heart / In Your Face
eL Seed (Faouzi Khlifi)
Sending Miracles to Mother Earth
Hana Shahnavaz