The internationally acclaimed Special Exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture has opened at Al Riwaq Gallery in Doha, the capital of Qatar, according to M+, Asia's worldwide museum of modern visual culture located in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK). 

The exhibition will be open until Saturday, February 14, 2026. After the exhibition's successful presentations at M+ in Hong Kong and Power Station of Art (PSA) in Shanghai, the Doha presentation, organized by M+ and presented in partnership with Qatar Museums (QM), is the second stop on the exhibition's global tour.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture was initially displayed in Hong Kong from June 2024 to January 2025, drawing over 225,000 visitors. It was organized by M+ and directed by Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, and Aric Chen, Director, Zaha Hadid Foundation, London. 

Over 163,000 people visited its debut location outside of Hong Kong at PSA between April and August of 2025. The strong public response resulted in a two-week extension of the Shanghai presentation.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

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.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

"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," said Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+.

"The exhibition in Doha has special resonance due to the Museum of Islamic Art, which is one of Pei’s most significant projects andexemplifies 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," Raffel added.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

"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," said Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar at Qatar Museums. 

"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," Al Thani added.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

The National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, D.C., the modernization of the Grand Louvre in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and Qatar's famous structure, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, are just a few of Pei's well-known projects that were completed over seven decades with a remarkably broad geographic reach. 

His reputation and place in popular culture and architectural history were cemented by these significant projects. His transcultural vision established the groundwork for architecture in the modern world, and his life and work weave together a tapestry of power dynamics, geopolitical intricacies, and cultural traditions around the world.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

The first comprehensive retrospective of Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), popularly known as I. M. Pei, one of the most significant architects of the twentieth century, was created over the course of seven years. 

The retrospective at Al Riwaq Gallery features over 400 items, including original drawings, architectural models, photographs, films, and archival documents from institutional and private holdings. It is organized with assistance from the Estate of I. M. Pei and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the architectural firm Pei founded. Through six areas of concentration that not only define Pei's distinctive approach but also situate his architectural projects in interaction with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, the exhibition closely examines Pei's life and work, demonstrating the interdependence of architecture and life.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

The exhibition debuted as part of QM's 18-month Evolution Nation campaign, which honors Qatar's cultural journey over the previous 50 years since the National Museum of Qatar was founded. Additionally, Qatar Creates, a transformative cultural movement that unites communities and inspires new possibilities through shared experiences, was a part of the exhibition opening in 2025. On Monday, October 27, 2025, QM hosted a panel discussion titled Inside the Making of the Museum of Islamic Art.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

This modern architectural masterpiece's inspirations, difficulties, and behind-the-scenes tales were all discussed. Both I. M. Pei and the Making of MIA at the Museum of Islamic Art and I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture at ALRIWAQ were highlighted, highlighting Pei's designs, legacy, and lasting effect. 

Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, son of I. M. Pei, architect, partner, and founder of PEI Architects; Aslıhan Demirtaş, principal of KHORA: Architecture, Design & Research Office, Istanbul; Shaika Al-Nassr, director of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha; and Hiroshi Okamoto, principal of OLI Architecture, New York, were among the speakers. Aric Chen, who is currently the Director of the Zaha Hadid Foundation in London, moderated the conversation. 

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

QM is introducing Architecture and Design—Turning Vision Into a Universal Dialogue, a series of programs that mark QM's new platform for architectural discourse, to coincide with the opening of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture. Under the direction of well-known individuals and institutions including Herzog & de Meuron, Lina Ghotmeh, and Philippe Starck, the program promotes innovation, cross-cultural communication, and practical learning. The exhibition period will also feature an exciting schedule of public events, including as story time sessions, workshops, and tours guided by curators.

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

Installation view of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, 2025, ALRIWAQ. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

The top image in the article: I. M. Pei outside John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Dorchester, Massachusetts 1979. Image © Ted Dully/The Boston Globe via Getty Images.

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Doha exhibit exhibition I. M. Pei