Central Asian Arts

Who We Are  

The Central Asian Arts Association (CAAA) was established in spring 2007 and consists of a growing number of individuals who share a passion for art and all things Central Asian. The members of the Association are motivated by a desire to give talented artists exposure to a public beyond their region which, to many in the West, remains a remote and mysterious part of the former Soviet Union.

One of the co-founders and the driving force behind the CAAA is Christine Sager, an American-Swiss, who took her first trip to Central Asia in Spring 2006. Christine was immediately fascinated by the masterful combination of classic techniques and ethnic motives of Turkmen paintings when visiting a group of artists in Mary, a medium-sized town in Eastern Turkmenistan. Christine has been supported in her work by Bossan Annaeva, a Turkmen national based in London, who contributes her in-depth knowledge of regional languages and customs, as well as by two sisters, Maral and Jeren Klycheva, who introduced Christine and Bossan to the artist communities in Ashkabat and Mary.

Encouraged by the success of its first three exhibitions of Turkmen paintings in London, and with the enthusiastic support of Asel Ibraimova, Aselle Wood, both lawyers in London, as well as many others, the Association has now extended its reach to Kyrgyzstan.

The CAAA is established as a non-profit organization, and all work performed by its members has been on a volunteer basis. The artists enjoying the support of the Association have agreed to contribute a small percentage of the sale price of their artwork to cover expenses for shipping, export certificates, stretching and framing materials, marketing, administration, etc. The prices of the paintings are set by the artists. 

The CAAA is as young as its members are passionate about expanding their pursuits. They are full of new ideas, from including other regional crafts, such as ceramics and textiles to organizing exchange programs to give painters from Central Asia the opportunity to gain fresh inspiration from new artistic environments. Conversely, the CAAA is encouraging its artists to commit some of their time to projects in their local communities, e.g. to giving painting lessons to children in under-served areas.

The CAAA is built on the skills and talents of its artists, the appreciation of a growing public for the rich culture of Central Asia, and the dedication of the members to its mission.

Please see our membership page if you would like to get involved!