Showcasing sites from Spain to Central Asia, Toronto-based artist Glenn McArthur’s photographs uncover the complex elegance of muqarnas—intricate, multi-celled surfaces that decorate the interiors of domes and portals of architectural spaces across the Islamic world. Crafted in materials ranging from painted wood to mirrored glass, muqarnas creates a mesmerizing transition between the rectilinear form of a building and its rounded ceiling, casting a captivating play of light and shadow reminiscent of the rotating heavens. This outdoor exhibition, presented throughout the Aga Khan Park, features a selection of photographs by McArthur, who, since 2021, has captured examples of muqarnas at over 300 sites across the Islamic world, revealing the splendour and diversity of this distinctly Islamic architectural phenomenon.

Presented by the Aga Khan Museum

• Glenn McArthur’s interest in muqarnas was first sparked on a post-college European trip in which he visited Spain’s Alhambra Palace. When he returned decades later, his curiosity was rekindled when he came upon a similar detail on a historic gate in the eastern Mediterranean region. This started a line of research and photography documenting these beautiful examples of Islamic architecture—a journey that has taken him to over nine countries and more than 300 sites, and which is slated to continue into the winter and spring of 2025 and beyond. McArthur is known for his work as a designer, a writer of several award-winning books on architecture and design, and an art educator at OCAD University.