Yarat Contemporary Art Space

Table of Contents

Introduction

YARAT Contemporary Art Space in Baku, Azerbaijan, offers an inspiring destination for culture lovers and curious visitors interested in vibrant contemporary art. Located near National Flag Square on Baku Boulevard overlooking the Caspian Sea, YARAT serves as a major artistic hub in the heart of the city. It is set within a converted Soviet‑era naval building and invites guests to explore a wealth of creative expression in a stunning seaside setting.

About the Museum

Founded in 2011 by artist Aida Mahmudova, YARAT is a non‑profit organisation with a dedication to nurturing contemporary art in Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the wider region. Its main facility—the YARAT Contemporary Art Centre—opened to the public in March 2015. Occupying approximately 2 000 square metres across two floors, the centre is housed in a beautifully repurposed Soviet naval warehouse with sweeping views of the Caspian Sea.

Inside, visitors encounter a varied programme of temporary exhibitions by international and regional artists alongside displays from the YARAT Collection, as well as a library and an auditorium suited for performances, screenings and events.

YARAT comprises three key venues. The Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the Twentieth and Twenty‑First Centuries showcases works by modernist and avant‑garde Azerbaijani artists and offers interactive tours and educational programmes for students and visitors. ARTIM Project Space, established in October 2015 in Baku’s Old City, presents the work of emerging Azeri artists and international residents through small‑scale experimental exhibitions and the ARTIM Lab studios.

Education and community engagement are at the core of YARAT’s mission. The organisation hosts workshops, lectures, screenings, festivals, literature and theatre clubs and special family events designed to engage audiences of all ages. Over the first decade of activity, YARAT organised nearly two hundred exhibitions and delivered more than two thousand education and public programmes.

Interesting Facts

YARAT has participated in prestigious international art events such as the Venice Biennale, Art Dubai, Viennafair and Cosmoscow, helping bring Azerbaijani contemporary art to global attention.
The YARAT Collection was the first contemporary art collection in Azerbaijan. It features works by leading local artists like Faig Ahmed, Rashad Alakbarov, Orkhan Huseynov, Aida Mahmudova and Sanan Alasgarov, as well as internationally renowned creators such as Oscar Murillo, Shirin Neshat, Taus Makhacheva and others.
The inaugural exhibition in the newly opened Centre in 2015 featured a major solo show by Shirin Neshat. Among the highlights was ‘The Home of My Eyes’, a large‐scale installation of portraits overlaid with calligraphy reflecting diverse stories of Azerbaijani people.
In 2025, YARAT opened the international group exhibition “Me and the Ark, Me and the Great Flood”, inspired by the philosophy of the 14th‑century thinker Nasimi. The exhibition featured sculptures, installations and audiovisual projects by artists from Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic.
YARAT regularly hosts special events such as Museum Night, which featured immersive performances, interactive art workshops, live bands, theatre and thematic tours with more than two thousand five hundred visitors participating.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +99412 505 1414

Website: www.yarat.az/

Facebook: facebook.com/YaratArt/

Conclusion

For anyone planning a visit to Baku, YARAT Contemporary Art Space represents a vibrant intersection of art, education and cultural exchange in a striking waterfront setting. From contemporary exhibitions and the carefully cultivated YARAT Collection to public programmes and experimental projects in its ARTIM Project Space, the venue offers artistic experiences that are both inspiring and accessible. Visitors will discover creative works by leading figures in Azerbaijani and international contemporary art, explore modernist legacies in the painting museum, attend performances or workshops, and engage with emerging voices in the region. Overall, YARAT provides a welcoming and enriching environment that celebrates creativity, dialogue and new perspectives in art.