Savitsky Art Museum

The Savitsky Art Museum, located in the capital of Uzbekistan’s semi-autonomous Karakalpakstan Region, Nukus, is a destination that stands out on the world map for its extraordinary collection. Often referred to as the Karakalpakstan State Museum of the Arts or simply the Nukus Museum of Art, it has earned the moniker «Louvre in the Sands.» In the summer of 2009, esteemed writers from The New York Times’ «Leisure» column and the International Herald Tribune extended a compelling invitation to art aficionados who are typically hard to impress: to make a pilgrimage to the Nukus Museum as a bucket-list experience, echoing Ilya Ehrenburg’s famed sentiment of seeing Paris before passing away. In 2015, The Telegraph bestowed upon the city of Nukus the honor of being number two among «10 Extraordinary Destinations You Have Probably Never Heard Of,» attributing this distinction largely to the Savitsky Art Museum.

The museum’s inception dates back to 1966, catalyzed by the initiative of the Moscow artist Igor Vitalievich Savitsky (1915-1984). It proudly houses the largest art collection in Central Asia, with approximately 100,000 items that span a timeline of over four millennia. The museum’s establishment is deeply connected with the Khorezm Archaeological-Ethnographic Expedition’s significant excavations in neighboring Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan’s ancient Khorezm and Karakalpakstan regions during the 20th century. The expedition’s leader, the globally acclaimed scientist Sergei Tolstov, likened the region’s majestic fortresses and monuments to «Central Asia’s Egypt.» Savitsky, a member of this expedition, embarked on independent research, amassing a collection of applied folk art crafted by local artisans. These early collections, along with ancient and medieval artifacts, rare Zoroastrian graveyard finds with ancient Aramaic inscriptions, terracotta cult figurines, and ceramic and bronze items that bear the marks of intersecting civilizations, laid the foundation for his museum.

The museum is particularly renowned for its avant-garde collections from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as the 1960s and 1970s artwork created by non-conformist artists associated with the Moscow underground. These artists, who were never officially recognized and were often accused of dissidence, became outcasts in the USSR. Socialist realism, the mandated art style of the time, obstructed their path to recognition and survival, leaving many talented individuals to live in poverty and obscurity. The Savitsky Art Museum offered a haven and support to these pioneering artists during these challenging times. Its remote location in Nukus, which was off-limits to foreign researchers, provided an ideal sanctuary for amassing such a collection without attracting the scrutiny of Soviet authorities.

The museum’s Department of Fine Arts is particularly noteworthy, bringing international acclaim for its extensive collection. This section allows visitors to admire not only traditional works from the national art school but also early 20th-century Uzbek masterpieces that emerged during the formation of the «Turkestan avant-garde.» This illustrious group of Russian orientalists, most fully represented in Nukus, includes Alexander Volkov, Ural Tansykbaev, Alexander Nikolaev (Usto Mumin), Mikhail Kurzin, and others who have posthumously received recognition for their indelible contributions to the annals of world art.

The Savitsky Museum also showcases the cultural heritage of the Karakalpak people, a historically semi-nomadic group now residing in northwest Uzbekistan. The museum’s collections reflect the genetic legacy of their ancestors, who once roamed the steppes of the Black Sea, Aral Sea, Volga, and Caucasus regions. The Karakalpak women’s helmet-shaped wedding headdresses even recall those worn by ancient Amazon warriors, whose armor is strikingly similar to some of the women’s costumes displayed in the museum.

The museum’s exhibits extend to breathtaking displays of Karakalpak jewelry, set against a decorative backdrop of woven yurt strips, the traditional nomadic dwelling. An on-site yurt offers visitors insights into its construction and symbolism. Artifacts related to the Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Kazakhs, the geographic neighbors and ethnic kin of the Karakalpaks, are also prominently featured.

In addition to its visual arts collection, the museum boasts small collections of icons, antique furniture, and decorative art, most of which are stored away from public view. Its on-site library is a treasure trove, holding the records of numerous artists and eminent scientists such as Tatyana Zhdanko and A.V. Gudkova. Moreover, the museum houses a premier collection of copies of world-famous masterpieces, crafted in the workshops of the Louvre in Paris and donated by Nadia Leger, the widow of the French artist Fernand Leger. These replicas are displayed in several rooms, evoking the ambiance of Parisian galleries.

For art lovers and travelers alike, the Savitsky Art Museum in Nukus is an unmissable destination. The museum’s remarkable collections, which showcase the enduring spirit and talent of artists who have persevered through adversity, deserve global recognition and appreciation.

Address: 116, Rashidov Street, Nukus
Phone: (+998 61) 222-25-73, 222-25-56, 222-88-83
Working hours:
Mon: day off
Tue-Fri: 9:00 – 17:00
Sat-Sun: 10:00 — 17:00
No lunch break

Note: Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.