Dunyagozel (Gozel) Bayramova the beloved wife of Durdy Bayramov, was unequivocally the artist’s lifelong muse. She studied English at the Turkmen State University named after Maxim Gorky, at the Faculty of Foreign Languages. After receiving her degree, Gozel taught at the Shota Rustaveli Turkmen School of Art from 1986 until 2001. She married Durdy Bayramov in 1966 before starting her teaching career. They enjoyed 48 years together. As an estate holder, today, Gozel helped establish and continues to support the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation.

Jemal Bayramova is the second daughter of artist Durdy Bayramov. Like Durdy’s other daughters, Jemal graduated from the Shota Rustaveli Turkmen State College of Arts with the highest honours, receiving a teaching diploma in drawing. Although she had potential as an artist, Jemal went on to realize her lifelong dream of becoming a medical doctor. She studied medicine at the Turkmen State Medical Institute and subsequently completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

After practicing medicine for some time, she earned a degree in Management at Moscow Institute of Economy and Humanitarian Sciences and managed a state-run enterprise for several years. Concurrently, she worked as an accredited correspondent for a Russian-based magazine in Turkmenistan for 12 years.

Today she is a proud business owner and serves as the Chairperson of the Turkmenistan Federation of Dance Sport. Jemal contributes to our document archive and carries out interviews with the surviving subjects of her father’s work.

Founder and Executive Director

Keyik Bayramova is the third daughter of artist Durdy Bayramov and the Founder and Director of the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation. Fulfilling the wish of her father, Keyik, like her sisters, graduated from the B. Nurali Specialized Art School and the Shota Rustaveli Turkmen State College of Arts. Having decided to pursue a career in business entrepreneurship, she continued her studies at the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management and then at Moscow Institute of Economy and Humanitarian Sciences, where she studied economics, business, and management.

In 2014, Keya completed a program in management of non-profit organizations offered jointly by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) and Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC) at York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto. Keya has over 20 years of successful entrepreneurial experience, previously directing a company with over 2,700 employees in Dubai, UAE. She draws on this experience in her leadership of the Foundation, which includes day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and building relationships with other museums and sponsors. Keya is also actively involved in the Foundation’s exhibition and research projects and is a co-author of the exhibition catalogue Through the Eyes of Durdy Bayramov: Turkmen Village Life, 1960s-80s.

Sulgun Bayramova is the youngest daughter of artist Durdy Bayramov. Sulgun received her secondary education at the B. Nurali Specialized Art School in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. She completed her undergraduate degree in Management at Moscow Institute of Economy and Humanitarian Sciences in Russia. Upon graduation, Sulgun obtained employment at Professional Group of Companies in Dubai, UAE, where she worked for seven years, in the role of Business Development Manager.

Sulgun serves as a research consultant to the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation as she provides vital information regarding the life and work of Durdy Bayramov.

Keyik Bayramova, Founder and Director

The third daughter of artist Durdy Bayramov and the Founder and Director of the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation. Fulfilling the wish of her father, Keya, like her sisters, graduated from the B. Nurali Specialized Art School and the Shota Rustaveli Turkmen State College of Arts. Having decided to pursue a career in business entrepreneurship, she continued her studies at the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management and then at Moscow Institute of Economy and Humanitarian Sciences, where she studied economics, business, and management.

In 2014, Keya completed a program in management of non-profit organizations offered jointly by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) and Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC) at York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto. Keya has over 20 years of successful entrepreneurial experience, previously directing a company with over 2,700 employees in Dubai, UAE. She draws on this experience in her leadership of the Foundation, which includes day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and building relationships with other museums and sponsors. Keya is also actively involved in the Foundation’s exhibition and research projects and is a co-author of the exhibition catalogue Through the Eyes of Durdy Bayramov: Turkmen Village Life, 1960s-80s.

Program Coordinator 

Rachel completed her Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Calgary and will be starting her Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Humanities at Concordia this fall. Prior to starting at the DBAF, she worked as a sculpture studio technician in addition to TA’ing and teaching university art courses. Rachel is a recent recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant for her research in the medicalization of mental illness in Western culture. She enjoys blacksmithing in her spare time, and will often be seen with a set of headphones on grooving to a wide range of music.

Collections Manager and Researcher

Begench is the eldest grandson of artist Durdy Bayramov. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick in Canada with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. Begench is fluent in three languages: Turkmen, Russian, and English.

As Collections Manager and Archivist, Begench is responsible for maintaining, researching and archiving Bayramov’s vast library and art collection. In addition, he also manages the day-to-day operations of the Foundation, which includes preparing the exhibition space.

Representative of DBAF in Russia 

Alexandra has a BA in Journalism at Lomonosov Moscow State University with her thesis focusing on the development of the Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation. She studied art culture in media outlets and media business. Alexandra started her career at the age of 17 with one of the leading Russian newspapers, Izvestia. She then worked for two travel magazines: National Geographic Traveler and Voyage.

In the summer of 2015, Alexandra completed an internship at the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO. She also produced a 20-minute documentary film about the Bayramov Museum entitled What Does It Take to Start a Museum? She contributes to the Foundation’s presence on Russian social media platforms, assists in securing institutional partnerships in Russia and carries out interviews with the surviving subjects featured in Bayramov’s work