The Karaganda regional museum of the fine arts,  that is the only art museum in the Karaganda region, was opened in 1988. The museum collection numbering about 10 thousand objects was collected  differently. The "Gold" fund of the museum are works of more than 40 Honoured workers of arts and 30 National artists of Kazakhstan and the CIS countries. The beginning of the museum collection was made by the works presented by the Karaganda masters. Among them there are: the canvases of the Honored workers of arts of the Kazakh SSR - M. Abylkassov, V. Krylov, artists P. Antonenko, P. Rechensky, R. Essirkeev, V. Shamshin, P. Andreyuk. A lot of works of painting, graphics and sculpture, arts and crafts were presented to the museum by G. Gilevsky, A. Osipenko, Yu. Kamelin, A. Plotnikov, M. Dzhunussov, S. Sanosyan, A. Bilyk, Yu.. Hummel, V. Shulga, A. Serdyuk, V. Imanasov, V. Malkevich, S. Kalmakhanov, T. Kenesbayev, M. Kalkabayev, F. Islamova, the spouses Orlovs, L. Smaglyuk and others. Various subjects are reflected in their art, their works are created in a diverse creative manner. Right after the foundation, the staff of the museum, headed by the first director of the museum - the art critic, the member of the Union of artists of Kazakhstan N.I. Ivanina, asked for the help in the Ministry of Culture of the USSR, RSFSR, the Kazakh SSR, directorate of the State Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Union of artists of Kazakhstan.

The directorate of art exhibitions of the Union of artists of Kazakhstan was the first who responded to help with formation of the museum collection. We received from Alma-Ata about 300 works of painting and graphics of more than a hundred authors among whom there were national artists of the Kazakh SSR - N. Krutilnikov, K. Telzhanov, A. Galimbayeva, N. Nurmukhammedov. Their works created in the 40-80th years are a peculiar art chronicle of the Republic life. About 60 works were passed by the Soviet Fund of Culture. It is painting and graphics by S. Luchishkin – one of the founders of the Soviet art, the representative of the Society of professional artists, the 20th years) - the artist whose works are stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum. The works by                     N. Simonovich-Yefimova, the member of the association "The Moscow Association of Artists", the founder of the Soviet puppet theatre, performed in 1925-1927 came to our museum, pictorial works by the Moscow artist, the polar explorer, the honorary member of geographical society I. Ruban, created in the 1930-40th years, graphics by D. Mitrokhin, prints from boards of Ya. Nalus in 1905, etc. The special pride of the museum is the collection of watercolor works of our fellow countryman, the national artist of Kazakhstan, the actor, the director, the choreographer Aubakir Ismailov. In 1939 A. Ismailov graduated from the Moscow Art institute. He was a pupil of artists-muscovites - A. Gerasimov, V. Favorskiy, V. Ioganson and also the youngest participant of the first traveling exhibition of the National Commissariat of Education of the Kazakh Republic.

Aubakir Ismailov became one of the first artists – chroniclers of Karaganda, one of founders of the national fine arts. It is possible to see the pictures by A. Ismailov at more than 20 museums of different countries.

One of the museum brands is the collection of works of the repressed artists. The history of Karaganda art originates since the Stalin times when Karaganda was the center of Kazakhstan camps. And the first artists who arrived in the 30th years here were victims of political repression. They were engaged in decoration of streets and areas, interiors of public buildings, created scenery in theatres and exposition in the local history museum, opened the first art studios, promoted the creation of creative association of artists in the city. Many of them devoted their lives to this land, others made their contribution and later returned to the hometown.

Among them were the founder of local lore art school, the former director of the Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin - V. Eyfert, the graphics master     L. Gamburger, painters P. Frizen, S. Ivashev-Mussatov, L. Usaytis. The outstanding German artist and art critic Heinrich Vogeler, the world famous aquarellist A. Fonvizin, popular at the boundary of the 20-30th years,  the graphics master R. Grabbe, the famous painter and the graphics master L. Kropivnitsky (the Moscow underground) influenced the people indirectly through their creativity.

The idea of "dramatic abstractionism" was proposed by L. Kropivnitsky when he was in the camp; rise of creativity came to E. Rozengolz, the Moscow artist, Falk's pupil after hard times in the camps of Siberia and sending to Karaganda. Because of the lack of money, pencils and paints, works were written with pig blood, in the collection of the museum such a work by the artist Borkhman I. is kept.

The museum became the owner of a magnificent ex-libris collection thanks to the famous master of the bookplate, the art critic and collector S. Ivensky. His exhibitions have huge success not only in our country but also abroad. The collection of graphics was replenished also with works of young artists – aquarellists after conducting the All-Union exhibition of watercolor in Karaganda. The works of artists Ya. Solop, I. Plaksin, M. Hegay, E. Seleznyova, V. Shulga, L. Frolov, the spouses Shchetinins, B. Lesovoy were acquired. It is a series of works, result of impressions about the trip around the Karlag.

In 2014, thanks to transfer of works from funds of the Karaganda regional local history museum, the collection was replenished with works by A. Kasteev, L. Leontyev, Zh. Shardenov, M. Kenbayev, I. Kuzhelenko's and others.

Creative search of artists A. Nod, V. Herzen, N. Viktorova, M. Sadykov whose formation was in the 80th years are interesting. Their works are distinguished by the search of new means of expression, quite different, more liberated judgment of the world around is perfect.

The average and the younger generation of artists, which go on their special way in art is presented by such names as L. Shaykezhanova, N. Daurenbekov, A. Kalmakhanov, P. Karpunina, T. Dosmanov and others.

In the collection of works of national arts and crafts there are more than 200 museum objects performed in different years of the XX century. Folk Kazakh arts and crafts are most fully presented in this section. The pearl of this collection is the yurta (the middle of the XX century) with its internal furniture. Samples of a horse harness, national felt and woven carpets are interesting: syrmak, tekemet, oriental carpets-alasha made by both national and modern masters. The Kazakh jewelry art of national masters is widely presented in this section. The works of the Karaganda masters of applied art are stored in the same section: T. Rolyan, M. Kalkabayev, N. Bolyukh, Abeuov O., Kossova L. and many others.

The bright, inimitable works of the Russian, Ukrainian authors continuing traditional art of the people are presented in the objects executed in the equipment of art glass, ceramics, wood decorated with paintings, incrustations. Foreign art is presented by the German and French porcelain of the ХIХ century (the Rubikovsky glass, "Three brothers") and also the Korean wooden objects (vase, casket) inlaid with nacre.

The section of sculpture is, perhaps, the smallest, it contains only 79 objects. All works belong to the second half of the XX century. The sculpture of Karaganda was widely presented by the glorified masters, the Honoured workers of Arts of the Kazakh SSR - N. Hummel and A. Bilyk. This section includes the works by A. Tsoi, Zh. Kaliyev, L. Yadrintsev, L. Smaglyuk as well as the repressed artist N. Rybetsky. The sculptures of the famous Russian master B. Mussat belong to the Karaganda period of his creativity. The bright and diverse collection of the Russian sculpture – P. Shapiro, A. Petrov, Z. Ozov, L. Apresyan, I. Arefyev, L. Bugay, H. Gevorkyan, G. Dodonova, I. Kotov, T. Koronna. The Kazakhstan sculpture is presented by the works of V. Rakhmanov.

During the museum activity it is possible to distinguish: traditional reporting exhibitions of the Union of Artists of Karaganda, personal exhibitions, exhibition competitions, anniversary, thematic, memorial and many others. Annually the museum conducts about 80 stationary exhibitions. The average attendance of constant and traveling exhibitions makes 75,0 - 85,0 thousand people a year.

The museum carries out both stationary and traveling exhibitions. Exchange exhibitions with the museums of Kazakhstan and Russia are annually held.

The international exhibitions from Poland, Korea, Germany, Romania, France, Italy, Israel, Cuba, China and other countries became an important event in life of the museum.

The variety of funds of the museum gives an opportunity to present thematic exhibitions to visitors: "Color of Time", "The Gold Collection of Names", "Parade of Professions", "Female Portrait", "Music of Form and Spirit", "Soul Ornament Melody", "The Fine Arts of the Sary-Arka", "Socialist Realism", "Palette of Names" and many others.

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