From Cairo to Honolulu: Khayamiya in the Collection of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design

A set of twelve historic khayamiya in the collection of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Honolulu – seven very fine examples from the khedival-era, and five more modern pieces from the mid-20th century – have been on display at the museum since their incorporation into the collection by its patron, Doris Duke. As the museum shifts toward a more artwork-centered interpretation and exhibition strategy, these highlights of the collection have been reinterpreted and redisplayed for visitors. More than mere ornamentation, the artworks are being presented as examples of an ongoing and vibrant making tradition, to which contemporary craftspeople continue to contribute. From their creation in Cairo to their exhibition in Honolulu, these khayamiya provide important information about form, function, and meaning in the historic and contemporary arts of the Islamic world.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Leslee Michelsen is the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Honolulu, where she has led the team responsible for the exhibition, interpretation, research, and conservation of the museum’s collection of historic and contemporary arts of the Islamic world since 2017. Leslee earned her Ph.D in Islamic art history and archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she consulted for UNESCO Afghanistan on the curatorial content of the Bamiyan Cultural Center, (2015-16) and was the Head of the Curatorial and Research Section at the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (MIA) from 2011-2015. She has worked with museums, artists, and archaeological sites in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the UK, and Uzbekistan, including curating new artworks, advising on the renovation of medieval architecture, and the development of UNESCO World Heritage applications. She has lectured in Islamic art history at Dickinson College, the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Kabul, and the Parsons Paris School of Art + Design.