Taking Flight: Why Dubai’s “Poetry of Birds” Exhibition Is a Must-See This Season
Dubai’s cultural calendar gains a highlight this season with “Poetry of Birds”, a landmark exhibition by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3). Running from 6th November 2025 to 25th April 2026, the exhibition brings together more than 150 exquisite creations to explore how birds—enduring symbols in Middle Eastern culture and universal emblems of beauty and transformation—have inspired jewellery, poetry and the arts through the centuries.
Featuring more than 150 exhibits sourced from museums, maisons and private collections, the “Poetry of Birds” exhibition illuminates the connection between Western jewellery traditions and the rich bird motifs that have long animated Islamic art and Middle Eastern heritage. If you are in Dubai in the coming months, this is a cultural experience you simply cannot miss—and here’s why.
The exhibition runs until 25th April 2026 at L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels
1. Experience How Eastern and Western Art Speak to Each Other
Birds carry deep symbolic weight in Middle Eastern literature and visual culture as messengers, spiritual guides and metaphors for beauty, longing and transcendence. The exhibition brings this heritage into conversation with Western jewellery houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Buccellati, Falize, Fabergé, Boivin, Marchak, JAR and more, revealing how distinct artistic traditions have been inspired by the same enduring muse.
Alongside these icons, a rich selection of carpets, ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork and calligraphy from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilizations, Dubai Museums and private collectors, including filmmaker Abdullah Al Kaabi, deepens and contextualises the narrative. A meeting point between civilisations, this is your opportunity to see how a single motif can move across cultures and take on new meanings while retaining its timeless spirit.
Alongside iconic jewels from Western jewellery houses is a rich selection of Middle Eastern carpets, ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork and calligraphy
The welcome narrative for “Poetry of Birds”, which frames the exhibition as a sanctuary of beauty, serenity and enchantment
2. A Journey Inspired by One of the Greatest Works of Persian Literature
The exhibition’s narrative is guided by Farid al-Din Attar’s The Conference of the Birds, the Sufi epic that follows a community of birds on their spiritual quest to find the Simorgh, their divine king. This literary foundation adds a contemplative dimension, prompting a more thoughtful encounter with the works on display.
Visitors move through the space as though accompanying the birds on their journey. The exhibition begins with an opening chorus that echoes their call to pilgrimage. It then unfolds into a procession of species and symbols, revealed through jewels and artefacts that explore each bird’s meaning. A dedicated chapter reflects on feathers as emblems of spirituality and power. The journey concludes in an aviary of imaginary birds, created by French master jeweller Pierre Sterlé.
The exhibition is inspired by Farid Attar's masterpiece of Sufi spirituality, The Conference of the Birds
The exhibition centres on the dialogue between 19th- and 20th-century Western jewellery and Islamic arts
A dedicated chapter of the exhibition reflects on feathers as emblems of spirituality and power in many civilisations around the world
It also explores how feathers became enduring motifs in jewellery design, illustrated through a display case of 19th- and 20th-century creations
Jewellery, Islamic works of art and photography are shown in conversation throughout the exhibition
3. A Rare Assemblage of Avian Masterpieces
The exhibition brings together significant works seldom seen beyond private collections or major European institutions. Visitors can expect to encounter high jewellery brooches by Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, realised in exceptional gemstones; gouaché drawings that reveal early interpretations by iconic maisons; and the fantastical bird brooches of Pierre Sterlé.
These works are feats of sculpture, storytelling and technique that demonstrate how jewellers have long pushed the boundaries of material and imagination. Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply curious, the level of craftsmanship on display is exceptional.
A peacock feather belt-buckle, circa 1900, in cloisonné enamel on brass and glass by Piel Frères, from the L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts’ Collection
A Van Cleef & Arpels diamond Swallow clip, circa 1927
A suite of jewels, including a brooch, belt-buckle and bracelet, by the renowned French jewellery house Falize, circa 1900, lent by Wartski
Cartier diamond bird clip, circa 1948
Van Cleef & Arpels Peacock nécessaire, 1951, from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Van Cleef & Arpels Eagle brooch, 1972, from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
4. A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to See Pierre Sterlé’s Imaginary Birds Together
The best is saved till last: an extraordinary presentation of Pierre Sterlé’s imagined birds—creations by the mid-century French jeweller celebrated for his unmatched ability to evoke movement in metal and gemstones. These whimsical, technically masterful brooches demonstrate why Sterlé, who worked for Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels and, later, Chaumet as Artistic Director until his death in 1978, remains one of the most lauded designers of his era.
Because these works are held largely in private hands, they are rarely seen together. Their appearance in Dubai offers a rare chance to experience the full breadth of Sterlé’s imaginative world in a single setting.
“Poetry of Birds” showcases an aviary of imaginary birds brooches by Pierre Sterlé
Pierre Sterlé opal, diamond, yellow gold and platinum bird brooch, from a private collection
Pierre Sterlé yellow gold and diamond bird brooch, circa 1960, from a private collection
5. A Middle Eastern Perspective at the Heart of the Narrative
Unlike many jewellery exhibitions, “Poetry of Birds” is firmly anchored in the Middle East. From Sufi metaphors of spiritual ascent to the deep-rooted tradition of falconry, birds hold profound significance in the culture, and their presence can be felt throughout the exhibition’s narrative.
This perspective is carried into the present day through contemporary photography by Emirati artist Faisal Alrais, whose work shows how bird motifs continue to evolve in the region’s visual language and creative practices.
Faisal Alrais, Houbara Bustard Feather, 2025
Contemporary photography by Emirati artist Faisal Alrais
Faisal Alrais’ photography allows visitors to appreciate the beauty and depth of meanings in birds’ representations in the Middle East and around the world
6. An Exhibition Layout Designed to Draw You In
The exhibition’s spatial design guides visitors through a gradual transition of colour, moving from earthy browns to verdant greens and luminous blues in a progression that echoes a bird’s ascent. Light, texture and sound work together to create an environment that feels suspended between the natural world and artistic imagination.
The experience begins with a poem by Mahmoud Darwish, offering a moment of quiet reflection before visitors move deeper into the exhibition. From there, visitors are guided through a series of carefully paced, immersive chapters, each inviting attentive viewing.
The exhibition’s spatial design guides visitors through a gradual transition of colour, beginning with earthy browns
It continues with verdant greens and luminous blues in a progression of colour that echoes a bird’s ascent
Colour, texture and sound work together to create an environment that feels suspended between the natural world and artistic imagination
Each carefully paced, immersive chapter invites attentive viewing
7. A Rich Cultural Programme That Deepens the Experience
Throughout its six-month run, L’ÉCOLE is hosting an extensive cultural programme designed to expand and enrich the exhibition. Visitors can join talks, guided visits, children’s workshops and themed sessions exploring subjects such as the craftsmanship behind high jewellery, the literary symbolism of birds in Arabic verse and the cultural history of falconry.
A highlight of the season is the weekly live poetry reading, held every Saturday from 2-4pm (excluding public holidays). Performed in both English and Arabic by Emirati artist and poet Reem Al-Suwaidi, these sessions offer a deeper emotional entry point into the exhibition’s themes, connecting visitors to the tradition of bird imagery in Middle Eastern poetry.
The exhibition begins with a poem by the poet and author Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008)
For jewellery lovers, the opportunity to see Pierre Sterlé’s imagined birds assembled together is reason enough to visit. Around them, “Poetry of Birds” unfolds as one of the most thoughtful and engaging exhibitions in Dubai this season.
WORDS
Claire Roberts has been writing about jewellery and watches for more than 20 years. She is a seasoned journalist who joined the team 5 years ago as a contributing writer and a newsletter editor.
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