The State Museum of Arts, Tashkent

The State Museum of Arts, Tashkent

The State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is the largest national art museum in Tashkent. Founded in 1918, the museum has a rich history and a vast collection of over several thousand works, divided into four main departments: National Applied Art of Uzbekistan, Fine Arts of Uzbekistan, Russian and Western Art, and Far Eastern Art.

Initially established as the "Museum of People University," the institution underwent multiple renamings: it became the "Central Arts Museum" before being titled the "Tashkent Art Museum" in 1924 and finally, the "Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan" in 1935. Until 1935, it was housed in the former palace of Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich of Russia, a grandson of Tsar Nicholas I. The museum then moved to the People’s House, which was replaced in 1974 by the current modernist building.

The museum’s present building is a striking example of Stalinist-era architecture, designed in the 1970s by Soviet architects Abdulov, Nikiforov, and Rosenblum. Its cube-shaped structure features even metal squares lined with aluminum sheets, polished gray marble on the lower sections, and chrome-brugnatellite glazing on the upper parts. This design filters sunlight to create a soft, matte indoor ambiance.

The museum's collection originated from Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich’s artworks and nationalized private collections in 1918, featuring Russian and Western European paintings, sculptures, and porcelain. Contributions from the Turkestan Local History Museum and acquisitions from Moscow and Leningrad in the 1920s added works by artists like Borovikovsky, Bryullov, Repin, Tropinin, and Yaroshenko. Later, it expanded with paintings by Central Asian artists such as Kazakov, Karazin, and Sommer, and from the 1930s, works by Uzbek artists like Usto Mumin, Pavel Benkov, and Leo Bure were prioritized.

The State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is a cultural treasure trove, offering visitors a glimpse into the region's artistic heritage alongside significant works from around the globe.

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The State Museum of Arts on Map

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30 m
100 ft
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sight Name: The State Museum of Arts
Sight Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan (See walking tours in Tashkent)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Create Your Own Walk in Tashkent

Create Your Own Walk in Tashkent

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.0 Km or 3.7 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles