The Memorial Museum-Studio of Z. Azgur

Zair Isaakovich Azgur (January 2 (15), 1908 - February 18, 1995) - an outstanding sculptor-portraitist of the twentieth century, who stood at the origins of the formation of the Belarusian sculptural school. Studied with Yudel Pen, Solomon Yudovin and Mikhail Kerzin in Vitebsk; at Vsevolod Lishev, Robert Bach, Matvey Manizer and Vasily Simonov in Leningrad; at Yakov Nikoladze and Evgeny Lansere in Tiflis. He worked in monumental and easel sculpture. He is the author of the monument to Yakub Kolas in Minsk, the monument to Yanka Kupala in the village of Vyazynka, monuments to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 in the village of Borodino, monuments to Yevgeny Vutechich and Alexander Butlerov in Moscow, etc. He is also the author of the monuments to Vladimir Lenin installed in the cities of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. Head of the Creative Workshop (sculpture department) of the Academy of Arts of the USSR in Minsk.

Titles and awards: Hero of Socialist Labor (1978), People's Artist of the USSR (1943), People's Artist of the BSSR (1944), laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1946, 1948), full member of the USSR Academy of Arts (1958), gold medal of the Ministry of Culture of the USSR (1958), silver medal of the World Exhibition in Brussels (1958). He was awarded orders and medals of the USSR and Belarus.The sculptor's works are kept in state museums of Belarus, Russia and Moldova.

Memorial Museum of Z.I. Azgur – the only monographic museum in the Republic of Belarus, founded on the basis of the Creative Workshop of the USSR Academy of Arts (sculpture department) and the artist’s personal workshop. The creative workshop of the USSR Academy of Arts in Minsk – the last, most beloved, talent worthy sculpture studio. Each artwork here is made with care since about 11 years. Within these walls, Zaire Azgur created more than 50 works. Here the artist declared himself as a recognized, respected teacher.

The building of the museum was built in 1984 by the project of architect V. Aladov. Since 1999, it has been included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values ​​of the Republic of Belarus. After the artist's death in 1996, by decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Memorial Museum of Z.I. Azgur was created, – a branch of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus. The museum was opened for visiting since February 18, 2000. By the order of the President of the Republic of Belarus of May 28, 2004 the museum became municipal.

The concept of the museum as a memorial was developed at the stage of its formation due to the specifics of the collection, which was donated to the state by the family of the sculptor after his death and includes 4009 museum items: fine art artefacts - sculpture, painting, graphics, and a memorial fund - the archive, library, work tools and personal belongings of the sculptor. The authenticity and uniqueness of artist's stock collections is an object of particular importance to the museum’s collection, their high artistic level, historical and documentary value.