Kazakhstan celebrates the 120th anniversary of Abylkhan Kasteyev, one of the founders of Kazakh fine arts, People's Artist of the Kazakh SSR, winner of the State Prize named after Sh.Ualikhanov.
It is very important to note that the outstanding painter, graphic artist is the first professional Kazakh artist.
Abylkhan Kasteyev's paintings are distinguished by his own style and ability to convey his love for his native land. The artist created more than 1100 works. The State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan is named after Abylkhan Kasteev.
In 1945-1956 he was the chairman of the board of the Union of Artists of the Kazakh SSR. For the first time presented his works at the exhibition in 1931: "At sewing", "At school", "Self-portrait", "Girl in a blue dress", "Portrait of a sister" and works of portrait genre "Gani Muratbayev", "Abai Kunanbayev", "Zhambyl Zhabayev", "Amangeldy Imanov", "Shokan Ualikhanov" and others. In the paintings on the historical theme "Turksib", "Sarbazy Amangeldy", "Bride" the qualities inherent in A. Kasteyev's brush - ethnic scope, national colours - are vividly manifested. The artist depicted the life and everyday life of the Kazakh people, managed to find new compositional solutions within the framework of the national understanding of the world. The works "Interior decoration of the yurt", "Kyz Zhibek", "Seeing off the daughter", "Women of the same age", "Meeting of the daughter-in-law" and others are national treasures.
Noting the old and new in the customs and traditions of the Kazakh people, he depicts social inequality in the works "A Poor Man and a Bai at the Well" and "Stealing a Girl". Abai was a favourite character of A. Kasteyev. This is evidenced by the artist's paintings "Young Abai", "Abai on Zhailau", "Winter", "Summer" and "Spring".
He was awarded the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of the Badge of Honour. His name was given to the Shymkent Art School, the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.