"Ural Tansykbayev: Retrospective Of Creativity" exhibition kicks off in Almaty

Another significant event was held in Almaty as part of the cultural week. The Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts of Kazakhstan hosted an opening ceremony of the long-awaited exhibition-"Ural Tansykbayev: Retrospective of Creativity". This exhibition is the first in the last 40 years to encompass all major stages of the artist’s career, from his early works of the late 1920s–early 1930s to his large-scale mature paintings of the "Thaw" period.

Starting from March 19, 2025, and running until June 1, the in Almaty is hosting a unique retrospective exhibition dedicated to the outstanding artist Ural Tansykbayev. The exhibition opens in a landmark year for the museum—its 90th anniversary and the year it receives National Museum status, a significant event in the country’s cultural life.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, the group of journalists arrived at the museum for the press tour around the exhibition. The media outlets got the opportunity to learn more on the choice of the venue for the exbibits, their background and more on artist’s life. The exhibition area starts with a timeline of artist’s professional period, his awards and most significant moment of his life. With this, the visitor heads towards the main part of the venue-artworks. The exhibition consists of 4 different rooms, each carefully designed with architect, putting a special meaning to each color choice. We have talked with the architect of this exhibition to know the meaning behind the choice of designs and colors.

Visitors can see approximately 78 paintings and graphic works brought from the State Museum of Arts in Tashkent, the Ural Tansykbayev House-Museum in Tashkent, the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Nukus, as well as from the collection of the Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts of Kazakhstan. The exhibition provides an in-depth look at the artist's life, his dramatic creative journey, and the complex evolution of his style—from his early modernist experiments to monumental landscapes filled with deep symbolism and philosophical undertones. Particular attention is given to Tansykbayev’s early works, which reflect the influence of Russian avant-garde and French modernist movements. Among the exhibits are renowned paintings such as Crimson Autumn (1931), Self-Portrait (1935), as well as works from the World War II period and iconic landscapes from the "Thaw" era.

While we have reviewed the artworks of  Tansikbayev, the time has come to officially open the exhibition. The Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the assistant of Uzbekistan’s President have opened the exhibition with their remarks.

The exhibition is currently displayed on the second floor of the Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts and serves as both a major cultural event and a new milestone in the study of the legacy of this great artist.