Doris Duke's Islamic Art Collection Debuts in New York at Museum of Arts and Design

The Museum of Arts and Design in New York City is presenting Doris Duke's personal collection of Islamic art, marking its first exhibition outside Honolulu. Duke, an heiress and philanthropist dubbed "the richest girl in the world" in 1925, developed a lifelong passion for Islamic art during her 1935 honeymoon. For over six decades, she traveled extensively, amassing a legendary collection displayed in her modernist Hawaiian mansion called Shangri La. The exhibition includes photographs, movies, and archival documents alongside Islamic treasures, offering a rare view of American opulence. Six contemporary Islamic artists' works are also featured, creating a dialogue between Islamic tradition and Western culture. The show is located at 2 Columbus Circle in New York City. A conceptual drawing of the Playhouse at Shangri La from around 1936 by H. Drewry Baker and architects Wyeth & King is referenced. The exhibition represents a significant cultural exchange and showcases Duke's voracious collecting habits that spanned more than 60 years.