What is Islamic art?

Islamic art is art made as part of the religion of Islam and forms part of religious life. It can also mean art that is created by Muslim artists or in lands that were ruled by Muslim leaders.

Examples of Islamic art can be found on objects and in places such as on prayer mats, ornaments and in mosques.

Calligraphy is a type of decorative handwriting. There is lots of calligraphy in the Quran and on many Islamic buildings.

Mosques showcase geometrical designs and patterns.

Non-figurative art is found in a lot but not all art from the Islamic world. Plant-like decorations are also a common design.

Nature is often an inspiration for artists. In some art from the Islamic world, you will find repeating patterns of flowers and plants. These patterns can be seen on everything from rugs and pottery to decoration in books.

Why not create some Islamic art inspired by nature? You could:

• make an observational drawing of one or more natural forms

• simplify the drawing so it is made of lines and shapes

• use the line drawing to create a pattern for a tile or an ornament

• Islamic art has been around for more than 1000 years.

• Islamic art might come from Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, or the Asian subcontinent.

• The Islamic world inspired non-Islamic artists such as the French artist Eugène Delacroix, the Austrian painter Ludwig Deutsch and John Frederick Lewis RA, the English painter.