Traditional folk artist Oltinoy Gafurova is leaving her mark on NYC’s diverse art community.
Oltinoy Gafurova, a master carpet weaver from Uzbekistan, has made NYC her home. The artistic cast of characters has welcomed Ms. Gafurova’s talents and master skills. As a master artisan, Oltinoy Gafurova was well-known at home, and using her traditional methods of weaving gorgeous carpets, she is also making herself known in New York.
Oltinoy Gafurova has won many awards for her carpet weaving, including the UNESCO Craft Prize 2016 for the Asia-Pacific Region Award of Excellence for her work at the “Silk & Spices” Festival in Bukhara. Now, she hopes to weave tradition into the fabric of the NY art scene.
Under her mentor, Master Carpet Weaver Mrs. Rushana Burkhanova, Gafurova mastered traditional methods of using natural materials to dye silks, wool, and cotton. Natural dyes are made from plants, animals, and insects and have vibrant, vivid hues: red from pomegranate, yellow from onion skins, and brown from walnut peels. These traditional methods highlight the motifs Gafurova weaves into her work. The history of carpet weaving in Uzbekistan influences her subjects. Ms. Gafurova studied Uzbek's carpet weaving history, learning everything she could about carpet weaving. Traditional motifs of flowers, animals, and tribal patterns, including the Tree of Life and Rose in Vase patterns, feature prominently in her work.
Ms. Gafurova’s work has been well-received in the United States. Before making the move to New York, she was invited to showcase her handwoven carpets at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The cultural exchange between the traditional artisans from the region and Ms. Gafurova shows a willingness to collaborate and learn from each other. Her reception has been encouraging.
Ms. Gafurova has come to New York at a great time for traditional artists. Hand-tufting rugs is a popular activity and has quite a following on TikTok. CraftTok, RugTok, Tufting, and NativeTikTok; all of these are viral trends. (NativeTikTok isn’t a trend, but more of a way to showcase traditional skills from Native American master artisans.) It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole watching others make rugs. This interest is excellent for master craftspeople like Ms. Gafurova. She has had a dream of opening her studio where she can teach others how to weave rugs using traditional and a few modern methods. This fusion of traditional and contemporary art forms finds a perfect home in New York’s multicultural art scene.
Perhaps Ms. Gafurova will face challenges preserving authenticity while appealing to a global audience. Yet, those challenges are sure to be met with opportunities to share her traditional methods and pass on her knowledge to a new generation. The opportunities in NYC feel less and less challenging and more of a way toward cultural preservation and education, bringing recognition to Uzbek carpet weaving.
Patrons in New York and across the United States have an affinity for traditional art and share that passion by promoting what they love. Ms. Gafurova has found a welcoming home in New York. Here, she can continue weaving rugs and educating others on traditional carpet weaving methods and techniques, sharing her love for her heritage and promoting cross-cultural collaborations.
About the Author
Randell Dunlap is a freelance writer living on the East Coast where he writes about the arts, culture, and lifestyle. He is an abysmal artist himself but appreciates art every chance he gets.
