M+, Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce that its critically acclaimed Special Exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture opened yesterday, 30 October 2025, at ALRIWAQ in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The exhibition is on view until Saturday, 14 February 2026. Presented in collaboration with Qatar Museums (QM) and organised by M+, the Doha presentation marks the second stop of the exhibition’s world tour, following its successful presentations at M+ in Hong Kong and Power Station of Art (PSA) in Shanghai.

I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture was initiated and organised by M+, curated by Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+ and Aric Chen, Director, Zaha Hadid Foundation, London, and first held in Hong Kong from June 2024 to January 2025, attracting more than 225,000 visitors. Its first stop outside Hong Kong at PSA, from April to August 2025, welcomed more than 163,000 visitors. The Shanghai presentation was extended by two weeks due to the overwhelming public response.

To celebrate the launch of the Doha exhibition, QM hosted an opening event on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, officiated by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums. Guests in attendance were Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar at Qatar Museums; Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art; Catherine Grenier, Director of Concept for the future Art Mill Museum; Doryun Chong, Artistic Director and Chief Curator, M+; Veronica Castillo, Director, Collection and Exhibition, M+; Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, son of I. M. Pei, architect, Partner and Founder of PEI Architects; and the exhibition co-curators Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+ and Aric Chen, Director, Zaha Hadid Foundation, London.

Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, says, ‘The critically acclaimed exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture is the second Special Exhibition curated by M+ to embark on a world tour, following the enormous success of Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now, which toured to Spain in 2023 and Portugal in 2024. I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture reflects seven years of rigorous research and dedication, culminating in the first full-scale retrospective of Pei’s visionary legacy. We are delighted by the resounding success of the exhibition’s first touring presentation in Shanghai, and we are proud to continue its journey in Doha in collaboration with Qatar Museums. The exhibition in Doha has special resonance due to the Museum of Islamic Art, which is one of Pei’s most significant projects and exemplifies his profound sensitivity to place and culture. This touring partnership underscores our commitment to sharing Pei’s legacy globally, fostering meaningful cultural dialogues and inspiring new audiences in alignment with M+’s mission.’

Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar at Qatar Museums, says, ‘Qatar Museums is honoured to present I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, a landmark exhibition offering profound insights into the life and impact of one of the most influential architects of the modern era. We are grateful to M+, Hong Kong for their pivotal role in bringing this exhibition to Qatar, exemplifying international collaboration and the exchange of ideas across cultures. By presenting Pei’s work within our evolving cultural landscape, Qatar Museums reaffirms its commitment to advancing global dialogue in art and architecture. Additionally, we are excited to announce a series of architecture workshops with esteemed architects and universities. These workshops will provide unique educational opportunities, fostering a deeper understanding of architecture's transformative power and its capacity to shape both space and society.’

Pei’s high-profile projects were realised over seven decades with an exceptionally wide geographic reach, including the National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, D.C., the modernisation of the Grand Louvre in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and Qatar’s iconic building, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. These landmark projects solidified his legacy and position in architectural history and popular culture. His life and work weave together a tapestry of power dynamics, geopolitical complexities, and cultural traditions across the globe, and his transcultural vision laid the foundation for architecture in the contemporary world.

The exhibition—seven years in the making—is the first full-scale retrospective of Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), widely known as I. M. Pei, one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. Organised with the support of the Estate of I. M. Pei and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the architectural firm Pei founded, the retrospective at ALRIWAQ presents more than 400 objects, including original drawings, architectural models, photographs, films, and archival documents from institutional and private holdings. The exhibition takes a close look at Pei’s life and work through six areas of focus that not only define his unique practice but also place his architectural projects in dialogue with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, showing architecture and life to be inseparable.

The exhibition opened as part of Evolution Nation, an eighteenth-month campaign by QM honouring Qatar’s cultural journey over the past fifty years, since the founding of the National Museum of Qatar. Furthermore, the exhibition opening was also part of Qatar Creates in 2025, a transformative cultural movement that connects communities and inspires new possibilities through shared experiences. QM organised a panel discussion titled Inside the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art on Monday, 27 October 2025. The conversation explored the inspirations, challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped this modern architectural masterpiece. It highlighted I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture at ALRIWAQ alongside I. M. Pei and the Making of MIA at Museum of Islamic Art, both underscoring Pei’s designs, legacy, and enduring influence. Speakers included Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, Hong Kong; Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, son of I. M. Pei, architect, Partner and Founder of PEI Architects; Aslıhan Demirtaş, Principal, KHORA: Architecture, Design & Research Office, Istanbul; Shaika Al-Nassr, Director, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha; and Hiroshi Okamoto, Principal, OLI Architecture, New York. The discussion was moderated by Aric Chen, currently the Director of Zaha Hadid Foundation, London.

To complement the opening of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, QM is launching Architecture and Design—Turning Vision Into a Universal Dialogue, a series of programmes marking QM’s new platform for architectural discourse. Led by prominent figures and organisations, such as Philippe Starck, Lina Ghotmeh, and Herzog & de Meuron, the programme fosters hands-on learning, cross-cultural dialogue, and experimentation. Additionally, an exciting line-up of public programmes, including curator-led tours, workshops, and story time sessions, will be held during the exhibition period.

About I. M. Pei

Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019) was born in Guangzhou and moved to Hong Kong in 1918. Pei spent his teenage years in Shanghai and Suzhou before beginning his architectural education in the United States in 1935. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940 and his graduate degree at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 1946. In 1948, Pei headed the architectural division of Webb & Knapp, founded by real estate developer William Zeckendorf, in New York City. There, Pei’s projects included Kips Bay Plaza (1957–1962), Mile High Center (1952–1956), and Society Hill (1957–1964). I. M. Pei & Associates, informally established in 1955, became independent from Webb & Knapp in 1960. Important commissions included the National Center for Atmospheric Research (1961–1967), Everson Museum of Art (1961–1968), and John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (1964–1979). The firm was renamed I. M. Pei & Partners in 1966. The late 1960s was marked by major public commissions like the National Gallery of Art East Building (1968–1978) and Pei’s growing international presence, with projects such as the OCBC Centre (1970–1976), Fragrant Hill Hotel (1979–1982), Bank of China Tower (1982–1989), and the modernisation of the Grand Louvre (1983–1993). Pei became the fifth Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1983. In 1990, Pei retired from full-time practice as I. M. Pei & Partners was restructured as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, but he nevertheless took on projects independently, like the Miho Museum (1991–1997), Suzhou Museum (2000–2006), Museum of Islamic Art (2000–2008), and the Miho Institute of Aesthetics Chapel (2008–2012).

About M+

M+ is Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture. Located in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), it is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The landmark M+ building on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbourfront was designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron in partnership with TFP Farrells and Arup. It spans a total floor area of 65,000 square metres, featuring thirty-three galleries alongside a Learning Hub, Moving Image Centre, Research Centre, and Roof Garden, among other event and programming spaces. The M+ Facade is one of the largest LED screens in the world, showcasing commissioned artworks on the Hong Kong skyline every evening. The museum stewards a multidisciplinary permanent collection that includes objects from regions across Asia and beyond. A highlight is the M+ Sigg Collection, one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Chinese contemporary art. Today, M+ is a nexus for researching and presenting contemporary visual culture, inspiring thought and curiosity.

About the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK)

WestK is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural hubs in the world and Hong Kong’s new cultural tourism landmark, spanning forty hectares alongside Victoria Harbour. WestK comprises a mix of landmark arts and cultural facilities, including world-class museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, intricately designed performing arts venues the Xiqu Centre and Freespace, the eleven-hectare Art Park with a waterfront promenade, and the upcoming WestK Performing Arts Centre.

Hosting over 1,000 exhibitions, performances, programmes, and events each year, WestK provides a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. WestK welcomes more than ten million visitors each year, evolving as the international cultural brand of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s strategic role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

About Qatar Museums

Now marking its 20th anniversary, Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.

Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.

Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.

About ALRIWAQ

ALRIWAQ opened in 2010 adjacent to the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Covering a total area of 5000 square metres, the gallery showcases world-class, large-scale exhibitions organised by QM. It often displays historic and rare objects and collections and major exhibitions by international and regional artists. ALRIWAQ's inaugural exhibitions included Told/Untold/Retold and Interventions, followed by Murakami-Ego in February 2012 and Mal Lawal in September 2012. Other major exhibitions showcased at the gallery include Dan Flavin / Donald Judd: Doha (2023-2024), Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World (2022-2023); Jeff Koons: Lost in America (2021-2022); Driven by German Design (2017); What About the Art: Contemporary Art from China (2016); I am the cry, who will give voice to me? Dia al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow) (2016); Here There, Qatar Brazil (2014); Intolerance: Luc Tuymans (2015); Relics: Damien Hirst (2013); and The Art of Travel: Bartholomäus Schachman (1559-1614)" (2012).