As well as our regular programme of changing exhibitions, SOAS also houses a unique collection of exquisite art and artefacts related to our areas of expertise - Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The collections have come to the School through donations from professors, alumni, visiting dignitaries and others who have a great interest in our work. Our collection of three Tibetan Tankas were gifted to us by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and our beautiful Songket textiles were a gift from Datin Seri Dr. Siti Hasmah, wife of the then Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Multiple artists have created stunning contemporary pieces especially for SOAS, such as our Satsuma-ware dish, donated by artist Saneyuki Hirota.
SOAS is also the caretaker of some collections such as the Percival David Study Collection holdings, and other items on long term loan, such as the Head sculptures by Sokari Douglas Camp on loan from the artist, and Baby Elephant.
The objects held at SOAS regularly feature in our temporary exhibitions, especially in the Foyle Special Collections Gallery, which was created with the intention to highlight items from our collections. Many objects are on display in the School buildings. We also use objects in support of teaching and learning at SOAS, and have an extensive rotating teaching collection.
