Bayramov Museum and Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation - Toronto, Ontario

Peter Q. N.

Lovely, well-furnished gallery with phenomenal pieces from Durdy Bayramov, who seems to use broad impressionist strokes to create realist masterpieces. The guide Zhenya was friendly, courteous and extremely patient throughout the visit and was generous with her time and showed an interest not only in the artworks but in her guests as well. I must admit however that the location is a bit unusual, after all it was the former home of the artist himself before his death. More strangely, however is the wonderful representation of Turkmenistan, a country so rarely spoken of. A well-curated gallery that could have great potential, but just needs a little help getting word out.

K. A. A.

What a genuine, authentic, creative and productive artist! I recently learned about Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation through a Turkmen day event that I attended at the University of Toronto. Soon after, as an art-lover, I couldn't resist the temptation but to visit the museum. I was mesmerized by the quality, authenticity and genuineness of Durdy Bayramov's works. I was lucky enough to encounter Keya Bayramova (Durdy Bayramov's adorable daughter) and lovely Yevgeniya Kramchenkova who made my visit even more memorable through their hospitality, welcomeness and incredible knowledge about Durdy Bayramov's works. I also was lucky enough to hear some firsthand stories from Keya regarding the origination of the works and how they came into being. The renowned Turkmen artist is most famous for his detailed portraits under the influence of realism, his lively still lives and landscapes.
A beautiful, spacious museum with some of the best selections of Durdy Bayramov.
I recommend visiting the museum to everyone who happen to be living in or passing from Toronto.

Rahat C.

Amazing foundation. Great collection of Turkmen Art.
Update: Very friendly staff. Yevgeniya gave a very informative and interesting tour of the place. Learned a lot about Durdy Bayramov’s works and life. It’s the best place to get to know Türkmen culture outside Turkmenistan. Will come here again.

Ayya H.

We were filled with anticipation and enthusiasm as we planned our weekend visit to the museum. Prior to our arrival, we had made several calls and sent emails to confirm the details. Relying on the information posted on the website regarding operating hours, we, along with a family from the United States, ventured to the location, only to discover that the museum no longer existed. Instead, it had become the private property of a Canadian family who had purchased the house nearly three years ago.

The woman who welcomed us informed us that we were the third family to inquire about the museum, and she kindly offered to show us a painting that had been left as a gift when they acquired the property. Seeking clarity, I reached out over social media to question the accuracy of the information provided on the official website, only to be informed that the museum had ceased operations in Canada. This prompted me to advocate for a website update.

It is crucial to ensure accurate information is provided to avoid inconvenience and disappointment for visitors and property owners alike. We have a huge respect to the artist, and request those managing the museum closure to be respectful and considerate of the visitors' time. Our experience was disappointing, having invested half a day based on misleading information and traveling long-distance only to discover that it wasn't there.

Elyssa W.

I was looking for some interesting places to go/see during a recent visit to Toronto and a friend suggested the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation. I'm a sucker for anything floral and was told he had some beautiful still life pieces. Although I was not familiar with his work, the staff were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. It came as no surprise that he was well known for his portraits, which were quite special to say the least. Absolutely worth the visit! If you believe "art makes you feel", you definitely want to stop by this place!

Vesna V.

This stunning artist and his great paintings did touch my soul deeply! I am still thinking (after 5 months) about his colors, poppies, fruits, fields, flowers, portraits... He did capture not just faces, but the emotions and souls of "common" people and made them special and immortal. His art is singing, dancing, moving everyone who has few moments to spare in front of his magnificent art pieces. This was the most brilliant part of my Toronto visit. I would recommend it to everyone who is passing by to meet with this great artist and his powerful work.

F. B.

My family and I visited the Art Foundation in the summer of 2019. What an amazing gallery! The artist's great works are showcased in the two story gallery. Yevgeniya, the art gallery manager, gave us a personal tour and talked about every piece of Durdy Bayramov's painting. The artist's paintings are about Turkmen people and their every day lives. We loved his unique style and the fact that his daughter opened this gallery to preserve his legacy is just so amazing. The gallery is definitely worth visiting!

Ishankuliev I.

A Visit to Durdy Bayramov’s Gallery and Foundations was a highlight of our trip to Toronto.
As a Turkmen I was proud to show Art works of a great Turkmen artist to my 7-year old daughter who was born in Canada.
I didn’t know Durdy Bayramov personally but after viewing his paintings and photographs it felt like I knew him very well! With every piece of his work he's left a part of himself, which continues to live and inspire us.
We are so grateful to Zhenya who walked us through gallery and provided detailed background information about each piece.

We are looking forward to come back during our next visit to Toronto.