Salina Kassam’s amazing photographs of the seven Ismaili Centres printed on cotton paper

By MALIK MERCHANT

cdentral atrium ismaili center houston by salina kassam
A depiction of the central atrium area of the Ismaili Center, Houston, by Salina Kassam, a Kenyan-born Ismaili artist now based in Canada, as part of her series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres, 2025.” Her creative works of the seven beautiful centres are part of a permanent collection at the Houston Ismaili Center. They are inkjet photographs printed on cotton paper.

As I walked through the beautiful corridors of the Ismaili Center in Houston, inaugurated by Mayor John Whitmire and Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, on November 6, 2025, I wished I had an entire day to explore the Center and its carefully curated art pieces. Unfortunately, I had to leave Houston before I could do so due to the requirements for LEED certification — a nationwide program that indicates expertise in sustainable design, construction, and operational standards.

My visit from the lowest level of the building — parking Level 2 — to the 3rd floor after the inauguration ceremony revealed artwork that truly blends into the surroundings. The artworks by various artists are thoughtfully curated and well-spaced, allowing visitors to admire each piece individually. I have featured some of the stunning artworks in my earlier piece.

As I explored the various floors, I was captivated by a wall showcasing the stunning architecture and features of all seven Ismaili Centers: London, UK; Vancouver, Canada; Lisbon, Portugal; Dubai, UAE; Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Toronto, Canada; and Houston, USA. The beautiful collage of prints by architectural photographer Salina Kassam expertly captures themes such as light and shadow, geometry, calligraphy, water, and tranquil courtyard spaces. According to the Ismaili Center website, her work is thoughtfully curated to highlight subtle nuances that visitors might overlook.

Although the details and photographs of Salina’s work are still in development for publication on the Center’s website, I am excited to share some photos I took of Salina’s captivating photographs of these remarkable buildings! I hope they inspire you as much as they inspired me. Salina’s Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres are presented below in chronological order by their inauguration dates.

1. Ismaili Centre London, April 1985

Ismaili Centre London
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, London, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, alongside British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on April 25, 1985.

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2. Ismaili Centre, Vancouver, August 1985

Ismaili Centre Vancouver
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, Vancouver, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on August 23, 1985.

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3. Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, July 1998

Ismaili Centre Dubai
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, part of Salina’s series 2025 entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, alongside Portugal’s President, Jorge Sampaio, on July 11, 1998.

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What is cotton paper?

Cotton paper is entirely made from cotton fibres. It makes this paper the highest-quality option available. High-quality cotton fibre paper is known to last hundreds of years without appreciable fading, discoloration, or deterioration.

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4. Ismaili Centre, Dubai, March 2008

Ismaili Centre Dubai
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre Dubai, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” Inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan on March 26, 2008.

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5. Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe, October 2009

Ismaili Centre Dushanbe
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” Inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, alongside Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on October 12, 2009.

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6. Ismaili Centre, Toronto, September 2014

Ismaili Centre Toronto
Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, Toronto, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” Inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Centre was inaugurated by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on September 12, 2014.

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7. Ismaili Center, Houston, November 2025

Salina Kassam, Ismaili Centre, Houston, part of Salina’s 2025 series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres,” Inkjet photograph printed on cotton paper. The Center was inaugurated by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, alongside Houston Mayor John Whitmire, on November 6, 2025.

Date posted: November 19, 2025.

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