Turkmen Museum and Fine Arts

In 1927, the "State Museum of Local Lore" in Turkmenistan established a department of fine arts. On September 29, 1939, this evolved into an independent "Fine Arts Museum." The museum's initial collection was founded in 1927 with works by Russian artist A.A. Karelin. From its inception, the museum focused on promoting national arts, and in 1942, it expanded its collection to include carpets, embroidery, and jewelry obtained from the State Association of Carpet Weaving and the Museum of Local Lore, along with various exhibits donated by the people of Turkmenistan. The museum also began receiving works from artists educated at the "Stepped-up School of Art of the Orient," founded in Turkmenistan in 1920. The department of foreign art features works by Western European and Russian artists, as well as applied art from the Orient, including pieces from India, Japan, and China. The museum has also organized exhibitions for foreign guests. On January 5, 1998, the "Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan" ceased its operations as an independent entity, and its collections were transferred to the newly established "National Museum of Turkmenistan." From that time until 2005, these collections were exhibited and stored in the fine arts department of the National Museum. On February 17, 2005, with the opening of a new building for the "Museum of Fine Arts," the collections were officially moved to the new facility.