The Ismaili Center
Events at this venue
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Opening Reception: Gabriel Martinez | Article
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXIsmaili Center Houston is pleased to announce Article, a solo exhibition by Gabriel Martinez, opening August 15, 2026. The exhibition takes its name from a monumental hand-sewn textile work that anchors Martinez’s ongoing engagement with material circulation, labor, and shifting conditions of value. The artworks in the exhibition are constructed from garments found on the street during the artist’s movements across Houston and situate the artist as one body among many involved in the manipulation of the material. They record the traces of global capital, evoking those who dyed and printed the fabric, those who assembled the garments, the people who wore and lost them, as well as the artist who places them back into circulation as luxury objects. The pieces are an invitation for the viewer to consider not only their formal composition and the laborious nature of their production, but also the disjunctive economies that enable such shifts in value. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a thirty-foot wall-sized composition, sewn entirely by hand without assistants, collaborators, or a sewing machine. The artwork highlights the labor involved in the garment industry and the environmental toll of an unsustainable industry drawing a correlation between the creation of the quilt and the labor histories embedded in the garments themselves. Presented within the Ismaili Center’s architectural and cultural context, the exhibition reflects an ongoing interest in how contemporary artistic practices engage place, material knowledge, and lived experience. The found pieces of fabric used in Martinez’s quilts are repurposed and adapted to new meanings of care for the environment and the body. Martinez’s work, held within the Center’s permanent art collection, extends its commitment to fostering dialogue with Houston’s artistic community through sustained exchange and public engagement. Art inspired by the craft tradition, such as Martinez’s hand-sewn quilts, holds particular significance within the framework advanced by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which emphasizes the preservation of traditional knowledge systems and understands cultural production as a vital means of strengthening social life and shaping shared environments. Within this framework, Martinez’s practice resonates with broader questions of how materials carry memory, how craft-based knowledge persists within contemporary systems of circulation, and how value is continuously produced and transformed. In this way, Article offers a sustained attention to the materials that move across the globe and define everyday life. Please join us for an opening reception on August 15, 2026 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm.
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ABC13 Loves Teachers School Supply Drive
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for the ABC13 Loves Teachers School Supplies Drive on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The drive benefits Houston Food Bank School Programs. Most needed items include crayons, highlighters, markers, pencils, folders, pens, composition books, spiral notebooks, Post-It notes, filler paper, pencil cases, Lysol wipes, glue bottles, hand sanitizer, glue sticks, Kleenex, paper towels, and scissors.
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Centered Together
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for an instructor-led yoga session at the Ismaili Center, Houston on the North Eivan. Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, this is a great opportunity to move, unwind, and connect with others in the community. After the session, stay and socialize with fellow participants while enjoying coffee and specialty beverages. This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Participants must be 16 years of age or older. Please bring your own yoga mat, and we recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the session.
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Cultural Heritage: Past, Present & Future
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXRenowned Pakistani creative visionary Yousuf Bashir Qureshi (YBQ) and Houston-based visual artist Fahim Somani come together for an evening exploring the intersections of art, identity, and storytelling. Through conversation, reflection, and an evolving creative dialogue, audiences will gain insight into their artistic journeys before the program culminates in a live collaborative performance where spoken narrative and visual expression unfold together in real time. Presented as part of the Ismaili Center's commitment to fostering dialogue through the arts, this program offers an intimate, community-centered experience designed to make cultural exchange accessible to a broad audience. Note: Registration opens at 6 PM. The program begins at 6:30 PM and runs 90 minutes, ending at 8 PM.
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FIFA Watch Party: Brazil vs. Norway
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for an exciting Watch Party as Brazil takes on Norway! The afternoon kicks off with a Pop-Up Café at 1:00pm, featuring a curated menu of local and international foods brought to you by Jackson & Company, Houston's premier hospitality and culinary group. Grab a bite, settle in, and get ready to cheer on your team as the match begins at 3:00pm. Whether you're rooting for Brazil or Norway, this is the perfect opportunity to come together with community and friends for great food, good company, and an afternoon of soccer excitement. Bring your energy and your appetite, there's something for everyone at this event! Event Details Pop-Up Café: starting at 1:00 PM Watch Party (Brazil vs. Norway): 3:00 PM
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Stars, Stripes & Smiles
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXLooking for a fun way to beat the Houston heat while celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary? Head to the Ismaili Center for an exciting indoor family event packed with activities everyone can enjoy! Bring the kids for arts and crafts, bubbles, summer treats, interactive fun, and plenty of opportunities to play, create, and make memories together. Families will also enjoy a special live performance by Andy Roo, whose energetic music and entertainment are sure to have children singing, dancing, and smiling. Whether you're looking for a family outing, a chance to connect with your community, or simply a cool indoor escape from the summer temperatures, this free event has something for all ages. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this historic milestone in a welcoming and festive atmosphere. Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit ismailicenter.org to learn more and reserve your spot!
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Centered Together
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for an instructor-led yoga session at the Ismaili Center, Houston on the North Eivan. Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, this is a great opportunity to move, unwind, and connect with others in the community. After the session, stay and socialize with fellow participants while enjoying coffee and specialty beverages available for purchase from Kopi Cowboy Coffee. This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Participants must be 16 years of age or older. Please bring your own yoga mat, and we recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the session.
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Center Talks | Ethical Decision Making: What Should Matter Most?
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for the launch of Center Talks, a new speaker series and platform to explore ethics, faith, culture, and civic life through thoughtful dialogue. The inaugural session will be led by Dr. Bashir Jiwani, Lead Ethicist and Executive Director of Ethics Services at Fraser Health Authority and a Member of the Bioethics Council of Canada. Dr. Jiwani brings decades of experience applying ethical insights across healthcare and public life. Drawing on real-world examples from workplaces, neighborhoods, and institutions, Dr. Jiwani will invite participants to reflect on how ethical reasoning operates in practice—not in theory alone. The conversation will be in partnership with Dr. Zahra Jamal, Director of Workplace Strategy at Interfaith America and a Harvard‑trained scholar‑consultant specializing in religious inclusion, Muslim diversity, and organizational change. Together, they will explore how ethics can serve as both a personal compass and a shared civic language in pluralistic societies. The event will explore a central question of contemporary civic and professional life: how do we make good decisions when the values we hold genuinely conflict — and what role does one’s faith play in shaping those decisions? Participants will engage with real-world cases drawn from workplaces, neighborhoods, and institutions, decide what they think should matter most, and watch as their own choices reveal the complexity of living ethically in a pluralist world. Drawing on his framework for ethical literacy, Dr. Jiwani will help participants name what they are already doing when they reason well — and identify the specific skills and qualities of character that make it possible to do it better. Please join us for a pre-event reception at 6:00 pm, followed by the event at 6:30 pm. Stay tuned for the next Center Talks session, coming in Fall 2026.
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The Cardamom Challenge
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXSpice Routes: The Cardamom Challenge is a culinary showcase celebrating the global influence of cardamom through inventive sweet and savory dishes created by a curated lineup of chefs. Presented by Sysco Nourishing Neighbors and McCormick, the event will transform the Ismaili Center into a vibrant culinary and cultural marketplace featuring food tastings, zero-proof cocktails and signature beverages, a shopping bazaar, and timed guided tours to the Center’s art collection, gardens, and architecture. The event will also feature a chef “throwdown” competition with Critics’ Choice and People’s Choice awards, while benefiting Urban Harvest. Guest judges include personalities from the Houston food scene. Tastings and beverages: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tours: 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., and 1 p.m. Winners announced: 1:30 p.m. Spice Routes is just one of the many events where the Ismaili Center spotlights its mission to nurture mutual understanding by bringing diverse communities together through shared cultural experiences.
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TEDxHouston Countdown
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXSince its launch in 2020, TED Countdown has mobilized the world’s boldest problem-solvers to address climate impacts being felt across communities everywhere — from rising energy costs to severe weather. The shift to a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future is already underway. Our mission is to accelerate that momentum by changing the narrative through compelling storytelling, identifying and scaling high-impact solutions, and building a collaborative community by bringing people together across sectors and regions. TEDx Countdown supports locally-curated climate events, giving host communities the opportunity to showcase their own innovative solutions with the world. In 2025, TED selected TEDxHouston as one of the 19 TEDxCountdown events in 13 countries to participate in the TEDxCountdown anchor program, convening thought leaders from around the world to share diverse perspectives, build community and foster new collaborations that can lead to tangible progress. REGISTER HERE
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Movie Night
The Ismaili Center 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TXJoin us for the first movie night under the stars at the Ismaili Center! Bring your own blankets or chairs, and come early for lawn games before the movie. Doors open at 6:30 PM for lawn games and the film begins at 7:30 PM. We're screening Lilo & Stitch (2025), the beloved story of ohana, meaning family, reimagined for a whole new generation. Full of heart, humor, and unforgettable characters, it's the perfect film to share with the people you love most.
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