Cities of Islamic Art: Volume Two by Laurelie Rae, an artist book that rethinks how we see and connect with the visual cultures of the Islamic world today.
It responds to and critiques earlier canonical representations of Islamic art by expanding its scope beyond limited geographic and categorical frameworks, offering a more nuanced and accurate visual mapping of diverse cities and their artistic traditions.
The book brings together 31 carefully researched cities across a wide geographic and cultural span to present Islamic art as a connected, multi-layered visual network that includes diverse religious and artistic traditions, emphasizing both accuracy and the shared yet distinct creative histories across regions beyond imperial and geographic boundaries.
Each page is individually sketched and illustrated through hand-drawn processes, with every motif carefully researched, selected, and translated through layers of drawing and painting. Made with watercolor and gouache, with ebru on the reverse, the accordion-format book sits between research and material practice as both a teaching tool and a tactile artwork.
On its way to Boston, the work was exhibited at the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival “26” highlighting its international relevance within contemporary Islamic art discourse.
This acquisition underscores the importance of contemporary artists engaging with the legacy of Islamic art and architecture as a living, evolving field.
The book is available for viewing by request at AKDC/DDC, MIT Libraries: 1591244786