At a special event held on September 7 at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, announced the forthcoming launch of the Doha Pavilion: Gerhard Richter, a permanent, site-specific structure designed by the acclaimed German artist Gerhard Richter. The pavilion is set to be located in Doha’s MIA Park and will officially open on November 20, 2026, coinciding with the inauguration of Rubaiya Qatar, the country’s new contemporary art quadrennial.
The Doha Pavilion represents a collaborative effort between Richter and Selldorf Architects, who worked closely with the artist to realize his vision. The hexagonal building serves as both a work of art and an architectural space, housing a curated collection of Richter’s paintings and sculptures. Its six exterior walls are clad with printed panels featuring repeating geometric patterns that derive from Richter’s 2011 artist’s book *Patterns*, which documents the creative process behind his *Strip* paintings—a series that has been central to his artistic exploration since that year. The pavilion’s design marries digital composition with architectural form, drawing inspiration from the intricate geometric motifs found in Islamic art, known for their mathematically driven, endlessly repeating tile patterns.
At the event, Sheikha Al Mayassa highlighted Qatar’s growing commitment to public art, emphasizing its role in everyday life and as a vehicle for knowledge, dialogue, and cultural exchange. She described the pavilion as a continuation of Qatar Museums’ initiative to integrate art into public spaces, fostering engagement and learning. She also noted the project’s connection to the legacy of the Qatar–Germany 2017 Year of Culture, describing the pavilion as a symbol of enduring cultural partnerships extending beyond the designated celebration period.
Gerhard Richter reflected on his initial visit to Doha in 2013 as a formative experience for the pavilion concept, crediting the city’s architecture and history as inspirational. He explained that the pavilion’s exterior decorative tiles are directly linked to the visual language of his *Strip* paintings, while inside, the space will showcase works including *Strip* paintings, *Mirrors*, and his central installation, the *Strip Tower*. Richter expressed that Doha was an ideal location for this project, reinforcing the pavilion’s significance within the city’s cultural landscape.
The announcement was part of a broader program at Neue Nationalgalerie that included a public conversation between Sheikha Al Mayassa and the Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, discussing themes of art, patronage, and cultural stewardship. Sheikha Al Mayassa lauded Eliasson’s longstanding collaborations with Qatar Museums, citing his permanent installation *Shadows Traveling on the Sea of the Day* and the major exhibition *The Curious Desert* at the National Museum of Qatar.
The Doha Pavilion stands as a major addition to Qatar’s expanding portfolio of cultural infrastructure, embodying a fusion of contemporary art, architecture, and the country’s commitment to fostering international artistic dialogue.