The MIAH Foundation is excited to announce the launch of our new in-house exhibition, Under the Sultan's Shadow: How Imperial Identity Shaped Ottoman Life and Culture. The exhibition will explore how the Ottomans consciously layered their identity onto the cultural, historical, and religious legacies of the lands they ruled. That identity shaped the empire’s institutions, arts, and public life, leaving a lasting impact across society.
Few Muslim dynasties capture our imagination quite like the great Ottoman Empire. The exhibition is designed to tackle our preconceptions head-on, as we explore the Ottomans on their own terms through exhibition text, as well as their illustrated manuscripts, mapwork, and artwork. This includes a facsimile of the menazilname, Ottoman statesman Matrakçı Nasuh's illustrated account of sultan Suleiman's campaigns in Iraq, the famous maps of explorer Piri Reis, and a 16th century Ottoman Dome of the Rock tile that once adorned al-Masjid al- Aqṣā.
From our gallery space in Balsall Heath, Birmingham you will learn through objects and text how the Ottomans took on the identities of the great Roman, Mongol, and inherited Islamic traditions, that shaped them into something uniquely their own that reflected through their arts, public life, and culture. The exhibition will bring together objects from private collections to be displayed together for the first time, and will be accompanied by a full program of creative workshops, talks, and activities suitable for people of all ages.
Preview viewing: 9th May 2026, 5:00 - 7:30 PM
5:30 PM – Opening remarks
Introduction to the exhibition by Lead Curator, Yusuf A
6:30 PM – Object spotlight
A focused talk on a key object on display by Assistant Curator, Heba Y
Public exhibition dates: 14th May – 30th June, Thursdays to Saturdays, 12:30 – 6:00 PM.
(We strongly advise pre-booking your tickets. Walk-ins will be accommodated where possible).
Address: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery (@ Moseley Community Hub), 496 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9AH.
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A note on costs: As a charity with no external or regular funding, we rely on public donations to keep going. To make this exhibition accessible to everyone, we have decided not to charge a set ticket price for entry, keeping admission free for up to a maximum of two tickets for those unable to pay. For everyone else, we would appreciate it if you could leave a donation using the relevant ticket type. Thank you.
Please share and spread the word. We look forward to welcoming you!
Image reference: Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66), The Met Museum, 38.149.2.