This virtual program, featuring Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum, and Gary Kamemoto, Principal at Maki and Associates, promises an in-depth exploration of the Museum's architecture, celebrated globally for its integration of modern design with cultural heritage.
Dr. Al-Khamis will provide insights into the Museum’s vision, focusing on how the architectural design embodies the museum's mission to foster understanding and appreciation of Muslim cultures and their connections with other cultures.
Gary Kamemoto, Principal at Maki and Associates, the architectural firm behind the museum, will delve into the design, creative and technical processes that shaped the site and buildings. With "light" as a central theme, he will guide the audience through the nuanced interplay of form, space, and illumination, revealing how light was harnessed to craft a contemporary spatial narrative that resonates with the depth and diversity of Muslim culture, interpreted within a North American context. This dialogue will uncover the stories of craftsmanship and the pursuit of quality, spotlighting the collaboration of skilled artisans, both local and international, whose expertise has been woven into the fabric of the building. Through this lens, the audience will gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and dedication that define quality in architecture.
Together, Dr. Al-Khamis and Kamemoto will offer a compelling overview on how the Aga Khan Museum’s architecture serves as a beacon of cultural dialogue, innovation, and inspiration, perfectly blending form and function in service of its educational and cultural mission.
Speakers:
Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director and CEO, Aga Khan Museum
Gary Kamemoto, Principal, Maki and Associates
About the Speakers:
Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis is the Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum. A well-respected cultural sector leader, she has over 20 years of experience as a curator and senior advisor for museum and cultural projects. She holds a PhD in Islamic Art from the University of Edinburgh and served as Co-Director at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization as well as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Sharjah Museums Department in the U.A.E. from 2007 to 2017. She began her career in Scotland, where she worked as Principal Curator for South Asia and the Middle East at the National Museums of Scotland from 1999 to 2007 and Curator for Muslim Art and Culture at Glasgow Museums from 1994 to 1999. Dr. Al-Khamis previously was the first to hold the position of Director of Collections and Public Programs at the Aga Khan Museum, a role that oversees all of the Museum’s activities related to collection management, academic research, exhibitions, public programming, and performing arts initiatives. In that role she led a team of subject-matter specialists and program managers to establish a strategically cohesive and sustainable set of audience-focused programs and initiatives devised to further the Museum’s mandate and role locally, nationally, and internationally within the framework of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) more generally.
Gary Kamemoto has been a pivotal member of Maki and Associates since joining the firm in 1984. He has served as the Director of International Projects since 2002 and was appointed Principal and Executive Director in 2021. Working alongside Fumihiko Maki, Kamemoto has been instrumental in nurturing the firm’s ethos and humanistic approach, cultivated over more than half a century in both urban design and architecture. His contributions have been central to the firm’s success, driving the development of a distinguished and diverse portfolio of high-profile global projects. Under Kamemoto's leadership, Maki and Associates has realized several landmark projects, including 4 World Trade Center in New York, the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Singapore’s Mediacorp, and the ongoing Blue Front Shibaura Redevelopment Project on Tokyo Bay. Deeply influenced by both Japanese and Western cultures, Kamemoto brings a rigorous approach to architecture, emphasizing craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. His commitment to realizing enduring quality is evident from the earliest stages of conceptual exploration through to the final phases of construction. He views architecture as a process of discovery rather than invention—an expression of cultural response that aligns with the shared imagination of its time, transcending building type, scale, or location.
If you register for a virtual ticket, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to access the program.
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