Tashkent opens Uzbekistan’s first permanent contemporary art center

Uzbekistan has opened the Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), the country’s first permanent center dedicated to contemporary art. Located in the capital, the facility is housed in a restored 1912 tram depot and diesel station.

Redesigned by the Paris-based studio Studio KO, the complex preserves its industrial character while incorporating galleries, a library, educational areas, public meeting spaces, a concept store, and a restaurant. The center aims to connect Uzbek artists with the international art scene and establish partnerships with major cultural institutions across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

The inaugural exhibition, titled ‘Hikmah’ (meaning ‘wisdom’), features 11 works from both Uzbek and international artists. Notable pieces include ‘Flying Carpets’ (2011) by Berlin-based Tunisian-Ukrainian artist Nadia Kaabi-Linke, sourced from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and works by Jamaican-American artist Nari Ward.