Umm features an assemblage of sculptures that draws on familial and global histories, time keeping, and memory’s ever-evolving form in response to the present.

Reflective of her training as an anthropologist, Khoury’s works incorporate a range of techniques and media—ceramic, metal, glass, papier-mâché, textiles—as well as cast-off materials and objects. This exhibition features a Wexner Center–commissioned assemblage of off-kilter sculptures inspired by music and food, which Khoury uses as symbols of inclusion, exclusion, and transformation. You’ll encounter a kebab wind chime, a neon night-light holding Palestinian olive oil, and an 18 foot tall radio tower. The exhibition also features new tile plinths realized through a partnership with Cerámica Suro in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The exhibition title translates to mother in Arabic, and it is also a reference to the iconic Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum (c. 1904–75)—world-renowned for her vocal range, impassioned performances, and improvisational prowess. Kulthum became a symbol of pan-Arab unity and was described as both Egypt’s fourth pyramid and the mother of Arabs. For over four decades, Kuthum’s live concerts were broadcast throughout the Arab world on the first Thursday of each month. In that spirit, the Wexner Center will present a special music program on the first Thursday of every month during the exhibition’s run.