Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir

Project Director—Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture

Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir was born in Tunisia educated in Tunis and London, and lives in New York. She is a writer, artist, and expert in Islamic art whose work is concerned with cultural bridging and cultural dialogue.

She was the Founding Director of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Al Khemir and her most recent historical novel, The Blue Manuscript, were featured at the 2009 National Book Festival, Washington, D.C. Written in English and translated into five languages; it is a tour de force that traces the search for the fabled manuscript of the title by an international team on an archaeological dig in Egypt. Dr. Al Khemir also writes in French and Arabic, and lectures internationally in all three languages.

She has produced documentaries broadcast on Channel 4, UK, and directed other exhibitions including From Cordoba to Samarkand, Louvre, 2006.

As a well-known artist, her art has been featured internationally including in the United States. Her illustrative works include The Island of Animals and a number of book covers of well-known titles such as Respected Sir by the Nobel Prize- winning author Naquib Mahfouz.

Known for her commitment to achieving understanding through the respect of cultures and appreciation of beauty, Dr. Al Khemir brings a unique vision to art in particular and humanity in general.