This museum's incredible collection of over 82,000 artworks has earned it the title "the Louvre of Uzbekistan".

Nukus Museum of Art

This unique and valuable collection of Russian avant-garde artwork is the second largest collection of its kind in the world.

Visitors can admire the wide array of artwork in the Nukus Museum's collection. – © Brian Ma

Avant-Garde Orientalist artwork such as the painting pictured above, is exhibited in the museum. – © Brian Ma

The first curator of the Nukus Museum was Savitsky, a Ukrainian avant-garde painter and collector. The paintings he collected were the foundation of the museum. – © Brian Ma

One of the beautiful paintings collected by Savistky that visitors can see at the museum. – © Brian Ma

"Woman in a Blue Shawl Against a Background of Carpet" by Alexander Volkov. Volkov was a Russian avant-garde painter. His art was deemed counter-revolutionary by the Soviet Union, but can now be admired at the museum. – © Brian Ma

Each room in the Nukus Museum contains a plethora of Russian avant-garde art. – © Brian Ma

A front view of the Nukus Museum, which was established in 1966. – © saiko3p/ Shutterstock

Those who visit the museum can see a vast collection of more obscure Russian artwork. – © Brian Ma

Visitors can admire the wide array of artwork in the Nukus Museum's collection. – © Brian Ma

About 30 minutes' drive from the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border is the Nukus Museum of Art, also known as The State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karapalkstan (and the Savitsky Museum). Igor Savitsky established the state museum in 1966 after convincing local authorities of the value of his extensive artefact collection. Savitsky alone is responsible for assembling the impressive avant-garde art collection, and it was no easy task.

An example of the unique artwork curated by Savitsky. Photo by Brian Ma

Savitsky arrived in Karapalkstan in 1950 for the Khorezm Archaeological Expedition, a time when the Soviet authorities began banning and destroying avant-garde artwork. His collection was gathered in secret and even renamed in order to protect the artwork. It was not until after his death in 1984 that his collection was put on display. The collection is the second largest in the world, totalling around 10,000 pieces of art. There are also thousands of other pieces of art, such as paintings, sketches, and graphics by artists like Tarasov, Stavrovskiy, and Ural Tanskykbaev.

Savitsky Museum interior. Photo by Brian Ma

It was of utmost importance to Savitsky to preserve the culture of the time through his art collection. Thanks to his efforts, the collection inspires countless artists and historians alike, and a generation of Russian culture has been saved. Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991 and the true significance of this collection was finally realised both locally and internationally. A stopover to the Nukus Museum of Art will provide a sense of fulfilment as you cross the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border.

Vibrant pieces among the collection. Photo by Brian Ma

Telephone: +998 61 222 2556

Visit

Nukus Museum of Art

Hours

Monday - Friday 9AM-1PM, & 2PM-5PM
Saturday - Sunday 10AM - 4PM

Pricing

Foreign Visitors - still photography 120,000 soums (about $11USD)
Video (per day) 350,000 soums (about $32USD)
Professional Filming: 1,000,000 soums/day (about $92USD/day)