DOHA.- For his first exhibition in the Middle East, Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli will bring together his most striking portraits of iconic female figures of the last century, including Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor and Lady Gaga, in a celebration of femininity. Presented by Qatar Museums Authority, The Museum of Crying Women will be on view from October 7 until November 30, 2013, at QMA Gallery in Katara.

Adorned with Vezzoli’s signature embroidered tears, the exhibition will display portraits, embroideries and needleworks of Hollywood legends, first ladies, fashion icons and pop culture celebrities reflecting the drama of the divided female identity–and the anguish of being caught in between a private life and a life in the spotlight.

In a space reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the exhibition will include a new series of artworks inspired by Oum Kulthom, one of the most admired female Arab singers, as well as a bronze sculpture of Sophia Loren.

The exhibition has been created in dialogue with Hans-Ulrich Obrist (Co-Director of Exhibitions and Programmes and Director of International Projects at the Serpentine Gallery, London) Rem Koolhaas (Founder of architecture firm OMA), and the artist. An illustrated catalogue produced by Kaleidoscope Press will accompany the exhibition.

Francesco Vezzoli was born in 1971, in Brescia, Italy, and studied at Central St. Martins School of Art in London from 1992 to 1995. He lives and works in Milan. The artist is currently the subject of a three-part international retrospective titled "The Trinity" at MAXXI - Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo, Rome, MoMA PS1, New York and MOCA, Los Angeles (2013–2014). The artist’s work has been exhibited in various international museums including The Garage CCC, Moscow, (2010), MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (2009), Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2009), Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris (2009), Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2009), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2007), Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (2007), New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (2001). His works have been featured in diverse biennials, including the 2006 Whitney Biennial, the 49th, 51st and 52nd Venice Biennale, the 26th São Paulo Biennial, the 6th Istanbul Biennial, and in numerous group shows.