About Us
Opening in summer 2025 in the heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Almaty Museum of Arts, founded by collector and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov is the first museum of its kind in Central Asia. The museum is situated in the city centre at the intersection of avenues Al-Farabi and Nazarbayev and its architecture inspired by the juxtaposition of Almaty’s mountainous range and its built up urban areas.
About Us
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
Almaty Museum of Arts promises a dynamic program of exhibitions, commissions, and publications, with a vision to connect people worldwide with art from Kazakhstan and Central Asia and serve as a host for international art locally. The museum aspires to support experimentation, learning, and creativity, and become a gathering place for local and international art community and public.
The museum’s mission is support and research of contemporary art processes in Kazakhstan and the region of Central Asia, becoming a space where discourse on the art of the region is created and examined, while engaging actively with the international scene and critically reflecting the process in society today.
Museum Founder
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
Nurlan Smagulov is a prominent Kazakh entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder of the Almaty Museum of Arts. He is the President and founder of Astana Group, a holding company with divisions including Astana Motors, MEGA Center, and MyCar.
Smagulov’s dedication to cultural and social progress is evident in his extensive philanthropic work and the founding of Nurlan Smagulov Foundation in 2020, which actively supports educational and social initiatives across the country.
The founding of the Almaty Museum of Arts marks a significant cultural milestone. Through the creation of the museum, Smagulov aspires to leave a lasting cultural legacy, showcasing the rich artistic heritage of Central Asia and fostering a dialogue between regional and international art scenes.
Our History
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
At the core of the museum is Smagulov's personal collection. Accumulated over the past three decades, it features over 700 works of modern Kazakh art—one of the largest private collections of its kind. Smagulov conceived the idea of opening the museum in the autumn of 2020, with construction beginning in 2022. The museum will continue to expand its collection, focusing on contemporary art from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, neighbouring regions, and beyond, embracing a diverse range of media, genres, and perspectives.
Architecture
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
The architectural design and surrounding landscape of the museum were entrusted to Chapman Taylor, a globally recognised firm of award-winning architects, master planners, and interior designers. Throughout the process, they closely collaborated with engineering consultants Buro Happold and museum planning experts Lord Cultural Resources.
The museum's design is inspired by the juxtaposition of Almaty's natural landscape and urban environment, symbolised by two ‘L’-shaped structures—one representing the mountains, clad in limestone, and the other symbolising the city, covered in aluminium. These forms extend outward, creating striking terraces with breathtaking views of both the city and the mountains.
Our Building
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org
The museum is equipped to host exhibitions comprising intricate works to monumental and technically complex installations, and is poised to become a transformative force for the arts in the region. With a strong focus on strengthening and supporting the art scenes of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, it will serve as a bridge connecting Almaty, the region, and the world. The museum’s mission is the research and development of contemporary art processes in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, while engaging actively with the international scene and critically reflecting the process in society today.
The museum will feature two primary exhibition spaces:
- The Temporary Exhibitions Room, spanning 1,000 square metres with soaring 12-metre ceilings, will host special exhibitions twice a year.
- The Permanent Exhibition Room will present rotating thematic exhibitions drawn from the museum’s collection.
Dedicated Artist’s Rooms will spotlight individual artists from the museum’s permanent collection, such as Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer, Yayoi Kusama, and Bill Viola. Outside the museum, visitors will be greeted by monumental works commissioned from prominent international artists, including Yinka Shonibare CBE, Jaume Plensa, and Alicja Kwade.
In addition to exhibition spaces, the museum will house a Flexbox for events, a Ceberhana workshop, a conservation lab, a professional art repository, a café, and a shop.
Nurlan Smagulov is a prominent Kazakh entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder of the Almaty Museum of Arts. He is the President and founder of Astana Group, a holding company with divisions including Astana Motors, MEGA Center, and MyCar.
Smagulov’s dedication to cultural and social progress is evident in his extensive philanthropic work and the founding of Nurlan Smagulov Foundation in 2020, which actively supports educational and social initiatives across the country.
The founding of the Almaty Museum of Arts marks a significant cultural milestone. Through the creation of the museum, Smagulov aspires to leave a lasting cultural legacy, showcasing the rich artistic heritage of Central Asia and fostering a dialogue between regional and international art scenes.
Museum Founder
Additional description:
Maxwell Museum of Art
123 Art Museum Drive
Portland, OR 97205
www. maxwellmuseum. org