Bukhara Biennial: International Artists Collaborate with Uzbek Artisans in Major Cultural Initiative
By
Jon Everall
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
The article covers the inaugural Bukhara Biennial titled 'Recipes for Broken Hearts,' curated by Diana Campbell and conceived by Gayane Umerova of the Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Fund. This major creative undertaking in Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art, focuses on artist-artisan collaborations that reframe traditional hierarchies between makers and ideators. The biennial brings together international contemporary artists with local Uzbek artisans to create unique projects that build upon Uzbekistan's rich heritage in textiles, ceramics, and copper crafts, transforming the ancient Silk Road city into a contemporary creative hub.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe scope and ambition of Recipes for Broken Hearts, the first Bukhara Biennial, curated by Artistic Director Diana Campbell, cannot be overplayed.
The ancient Silk Road city, renowned for being a centre of learning and trade, a hub of architecture and crafts, has built upon the proud heritage of the country, its textiles, ceramics, and copper.
The biennial has been conceived by Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Fund (ACDF), as an opportunity to pair international contemporary artists with local artisans.
Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art, brings together international artists and local artisans for phenomenal one-off projects.
You might also wanna read

Kulapat Yantrasast Curates Uzbek Craft Exhibition for Milan Design Week 2026
Architect Kulapat Yantrasast has curated an exhibition titled 'When Apricots Blossom' for Milan Design Week 2026, exploring Uzbek craft trad

Uzbekistan Debuts at Milan Design Week with Deconstructed Yurt Pavilion and Bread-Making Exhibition
Uzbekistan makes its debut at Milan Design Week with an exhibition titled 'When Apricots Blossom' at Palazzo Citterio, featuring a garden pa
