Qatar Foundation is set to inaugurate the Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum on November 28, 2025, marking a historic milestone as the world’s first institution entirely dedicated to the legendary Indian modernist artist Maqbool Fida Husain. The 3,000-square-meter museum will be located in Education City, Doha, and represents a groundbreaking tribute to one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern Indian art.
Museum Design and Vision
The museum’s design carries deep personal significance, as it is based on an architectural sketch created by Husain himself in 2008. The artist envisioned the building as an artwork in itself, featuring a deep-blue structure with abstract interventions and a tall, white, minaret-like cylindrical tower. This unique collaboration across time has been brought to life by New Delhi-based architect Martand Khosla, who also designed the award-winning M.F. Husain Art Gallery at Jamia Millia Islamia University.
The museum’s name, “Lawh Wa Qalam,” translates to “the Canvas and the Pen” in Arabic, symbolizing knowledge in Islamic tradition as instruments that document and convey wisdom, history, and creativity. These elements reflect Husain’s lifelong commitment to experimentation across various artistic disciplines.
Comprehensive Collection Spanning Six Decades
The museum will house an extensive permanent collection showcasing Husain’s multidisciplinary practice from the 1950s until his death in 2011. Visitors will experience his diverse artistic output through paintings, films, tapestry, photography, poetry, and installations. The collection includes works spanning multiple media that demonstrate Husain’s evolution as an artist and his engagement with Indian culture, mythology, and contemporary themes.
Among the museum’s highlights will be a series of over 35 paintings commissioned by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, inspired by Arab civilization. These works, completed during Husain’s final years in Qatar, represent a significant cultural bridge between his Indian heritage and his adopted home.
A dedicated gallery will feature “Seeroo fi al ardh” (Travel Through the Earth), Husain’s final masterpiece that depicts humanity’s progress on land, in the air, and at sea. Originally conceived in 2009, this large-scale installation was completed posthumously and unveiled in 2019 in Education City.
The Artist’s Journey and Legacy
Early Life and Artistic Formation
Born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Maqbool Fida Husain emerged from humble beginnings to become one of India’s most celebrated artists. Largely self-taught, he began his career painting cinema billboards in Mumbai, an experience that significantly influenced his bold, expressive style. In 1947, he became a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay, alongside luminaries like F.N. Souza and S.H. Raza.
The Progressive Artists’ Group sought to break away from the academic realism of the Bengal School and create a modern visual language for newly independent India. They aimed to “paint with absolute freedom for content and technique,” combining Western modernist influences with traditional Indian themes. This revolutionary approach positioned Husain at the forefront of Indian modernism.
Artistic Themes and International Recognition
Husain’s work encompassed diverse themes, from dynamic horse paintings that symbolized energy and freedom to depictions of Indian mythology, rural life, and contemporary figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. His modified Cubist style, characterized by bold colors and expressive brushwork, earned him international acclaim and the moniker “Picasso of India”.
His career included prestigious exhibitions at major international venues, including the Venice Biennale (1952), Tokyo Biennial (1960), and São Paulo Biennial (1971). His work was featured in retrospectives at institutions such as the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and Mathaf, the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.
Controversy and Exile
Religious Sensitivities and Legal Battles
Husain’s career was overshadowed by controversy beginning in the 1990s when his nude depictions of Hindu deities sparked outrage among religious groups. The controversy intensified with his painting of Bharat Mata (Mother India) as a nude figure across a map of India. These works led to over 1,250 legal cases, death threats, and vandalism of his exhibitions.
In 2006, facing escalating threats and legal challenges, the 91-year-old artist entered self-imposed exile. He divided his time between Dubai, London, and Qatar, eventually accepting Qatari citizenship in 2010. The Delhi High Court later quashed most charges against him, with Justice Kaul terming the allegations “baseless” and noting that “a painter at 90 deserves to be sitting in his home and painting his canvas”.
Qatar Foundation’s Commitment to Arts
Kholoud M. Al-Ali, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Programming at Qatar Foundation, emphasized that the museum reflects the organization’s dedication to providing spaces for cultural exploration and inspiration. “Maqbool Fida Husain was one of the world’s most legendary modernists, an artist whose vision emerged from and resonated across different cultures, including here in Qatar, where he lived and practiced during his life,” she stated.
The museum joins Qatar Foundation’s growing collection of over 100 public artworks displayed across Education City, reinforcing Qatar’s commitment to becoming a major cultural hub. The institution operates independently from Qatar Museums while contributing to the country’s broader cultural landscape.
Market Recognition and Contemporary Relevance
Husain’s artistic legacy continues to gain market recognition, with his 1954 work “Untitled (Gram Yatra)” selling for ₹118 crore (approximately $13.8 million) at Christie’s New York in 2024, setting records for both the artist and Indian modern art. This sale underscored his enduring significance in the global art market and validated his position as one of India’s most valuable artists.
As visitors prepare to experience this landmark cultural institution, the Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum stands ready to offer an immersive journey through the life and work of an artist whose vision transcended borders and whose legacy continues to inspire dialogue about art, identity, and creative expression in the contemporary world.
Cover image: Exterior view of Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum. Courtesy of Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum.
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