Evolution of Ceramic Art of Uzbekistan in the 20th Century: Traditions, Transformation and Institutional Development

Ceramic art of Uzbekistan developed as an independent branch of national decorative and applied arts. This article examines the evolution of the Tashkent ceramic school and craft production in the 20th century. Traditional craftsmanship, development through local schools and the “master-apprentice” system, the impact of industrialization, cooperative movements in the 1920–1930s, the establishment of an experimental workshop at the Artists' Union Art Fund in 1950, and industry modernization in the 1960s are analyzed. Museum artifacts (khumcha, shokosa, lagan) illustrate the preservation of traditional forms and techniques alongside the development of new decorative approaches.