On October 3, 2025, at 4:00 PM, the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan will host the opening of the memorial exhibition “CHRONICLE OF THE GREAT STEPPE”, dedicated to the work of the talented artist, member of the Union of Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan, prominent figure of Kazakh art, laureate of international and national exhibitions – Kozhin Nurbazar Toleuly.
Nurbazar Kozhin was born in 1965 in the village of Kotyrtas, Shalkar district, Aktobe region, into a humble family. His talent for visual arts emerged at an early age. Even during his school years, he was firmly determined to dedicate his life to art. After graduating from Aktogay Secondary school, he worked for two years in a shepherd brigade and in 1985, he was drafted into the army. While serving in the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok, he began to express his longing for his homeland through drawings – a moment that marked the beginning of his artistic journey. During this period, his artistic endowment truly began to unfold. In 1988, he entered to Almaty Art School named after N.V. Gogol, which he successfully graduated in 1992. The following year, in 1993, he continued his education at the Kazakh State Academy of Arts, studying in the creative workshop of Professor Mukhit Kalimov. During this time, he honed his skills and developed his unique artistic style.
In 1999, a significant milestone occurred in the artist’s career – his first solo exhibition, “Visual Art”, was held at the Turk Mädıeni Bilim Center. He became a laureate of the international festival of young artists “Zhiger”, which brought together participants from Central Asian countries. This achievement earned him wide recognition within the professional art community.
Nurbazar Toleuly took part in a number of significant anniversary exhibitions and festivals, where he established himself as an artist with a vivid and distinctive style. Among them were the exhibition “Kisen Ashkan”, dedicated to the 5th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence and the 10th, 20th anniversary of the December 1986 event; an exhibition commemorating the 200th anniversary of Makhambet Utemisov; the international festival “Through the Eyes of World Artists” and the art festival “Nur Kelbeti – Astana”.
In 2003, he participated in an international exhibition in London, followed by “The Style of the Great Steppe” (Almaty, 2011) and several exhibitions marking major cultural anniversaries, including the 150th anniversary of Abai Kunanbayev and the 1500th anniversary of Turkestan, among others. In 2001, he held a solo exhibition at the “Ular” Gallery. From 2020 to 2022, he participated in an international exhibition in Cyprus, where his works became part of the permanent collection of the KIBRIS Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2023, he was awarded the honorary badge “Figure of Kazakh Art”, a formal recognition of his contribution to the cultural development of the country. These and other milestones have become important landmarks in his artistic journey.
Nurbazar Toleuly left behind not only works of deep historical meaning and artistic value, but also compositions that remain vividly in the memory of viewers. The artist drew inspiration from the rich cultural traditions and way of life of the Kazakh people, bringing them to life through oil painting. His main subjects were often women in traditional attire – young girls in festive dress, and elderly women wearing kimesheks and headscarves – whose everyday lives he depicted with subtle lyricism and grace. His early works were marked by a strong desire to convey reality and personal impressions. Themes of ancestry, heroes, Kazakh legends, myths, and folktales came alive in his imagination, transforming into unique visual images. The artist also turned to more philosophical and symbolic subjects. His paintings feature distinct symbols of Kazakh culture, through which he conveyed the essence of daily life and expressed a deep connection to the spiritual heritage of his ancestors.
Nurbazar Kozhin is a prominent figure in Kazakh painting, an artist with a distinctive and original style. His work is characterized by realism and naturalism, with elements of impressionism. His paintings are held not only in Kazakhstan but also in private collections in the United States, Germany, France, China, Japan, Russia and other countries.
The exhibition will run until October 17, 2025.
