The Mathaf Encyclopedia is a bilingual, peer-reviewed resource that offers free, in-depth insight into artists from across the Arab world and surrounding regions. Building on Mathaf’s ongoing mission to support research and the production of knowledge surrounding its permanent collection, the Encyclopedia represents a vital contribution to modern and contemporary art from the SWANA region.
Originally launched in 2013, the project was developed by Mathaf’s Research and Curatorial team in collaboration with leading scholars, independent researchers and in-house support from QM’s digital products and editorial teams.
A Living Extension of the Museum
The Encyclopedia is more than a digital archive—it’s an online extension of Mathaf’s work to make knowledge accessible and inclusive. It brings together a multitude of artist biographies, deep dive scholarly essays and a range of multimedia content about artists from across a multitude of backgrounds and disciplines.
Whether you’re a researcher, student, artist, or simply curious, the platform invites you to explore Arab and regional art history—and its ongoing evolution—in greater depth.
What You’ll Find
The platform is designed to be intuitive, informative, and easy to navigate. It’s structured into three main sections:
Biographies
Detailed, peer-reviewed entries on individual artists, including images, artworks, videos, exhibitions, awards and references for further reading. Whether you are writing a thesis on Inji Aflatoun, or are curious about Dia Azzawi, the Encyclopedia biographies are a rich source of information.
Essays
A collection of writings from notable professionals within the field, offering critical perspectives on the ideas, movements, events, and figures that have defined modern and contemporary art in the SWANA region.
Directory
A complete list of all authors and contributors featured in the Encyclopedia, with dedicated profiles that showcase each contributor’s background.
Visitors can explore the content alphabetically, or browse entries by their publication date.
What’s New? A Web of Connections
One of the most exciting new features is the Overlay—an interactive tool that helps users explore how different artists, events, ideas, and places are connected.
By clicking the ‘See Connections’ button, users can visually navigate through a network of relationships, revealing the links that shape Arab art history. Artists are linked via institutions, countries of origin, artistic movements and more. It’s a dynamic, intuitive way to experience the Encylopedia.
Start Exploring
Explore the Mathaf Encyclopedia and discover the artists, ideas, and histories shaping modern and contemporary art from the Arab world.
