about
Artist Biography
GÜLNAR BABAYEVA
Savours fresh solitude, loves life's multiplicity and strives for simplicity
GÜLNAR BABAYEVA is a figurative sculptor & designer at @caspianmuse, based in the Hudson Valley, NY. Originally from Azerbaijan, she moved to New York State in 2010 to study art and design thanks to serendipitous circumstances. Babayeva has been sculpting the human form since 2012, and started her explorations in ceramic vessel design in 2020. Babayeva’s multidisciplinary nature as a creative explores the versatility of her chosen medium from the perspectives of designer and sculptor identities interchangeably.
Education: BA in American Studies from Azerbaijan University of Languages; AA in Fine Arts + AS in Advertising Design & Graphic Tech from SUNY Ulster. Select Accolades: Received State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, President’s Award for Student Leadership, President’s Award for Student Initiative.
Artist Photo courtesy of Madeline Krause
As an early career sculptor she practiced observational figurative sculpting at Woodstock School of Art 2013-2015, 2017-2020, and began focusing on her sculptor identity as an independent artist during the pandemic. This led to Babayeva’s debut solo exhibition – R e v i v a l – at the Arts Society of Kingston in June 2021. Since then Babayeva’s sculpture works have been actively exhibited at local galleries in solo, duo and group exhibitions, and acquired for private collections. For details please refer to exhibitions history.
Babayeva was awarded the 2022 NYSCA Individual Artist Grant by the New York State Council on the Arts* to pursue her artistic vision & mission of cultivating figurative sculpture locally, within the Hudson Valley area. Babayeva collaborates with local studios or educational orgs as a sculpture instructor and offers introductory figurative, portrait, animal sculpting, and vessel design workshops. She works with & teaches diverse group of people: youth, adults & elderly.
*This support is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Babayeva brings representation as a sculptor and designer to the local arts communities with her active participation as an exhibiting artist, volunteer, board director, instructor and curator. Gülnar Babayeva is an Associate Member at the National Sculpture Society since 2022, and an active member of local art organizations.
Artist offers workshops + creative & design collaboration opportunities locally and remotely as Caspian Müse Studio.
ART ALLIANCE
2022 – Present NSS | National Sculpture Society ✦Associate Member
2021 – Present WAAM | Woodstock Artists Association and Museum ✦ Active Member
2015 – 2025 ASK | Arts Society of Kingston
✦Elected Board Director at the ASK Board of Directors JUL 2023 - Jun 2025
✦ Gallery Committee Member Jan 2021 -Jan 2022; Apr 2023 - Apr 2024
✦ Artist Member 2015 - 2025
news
in the news
interview +
BlueStone Press / Reporter Jeff Slater, January 10, 2025
An Inspired Optimist
An Interview with Gülnar Babayeva about her journey to the Hudson Valley NY, about her family, professional undertakings and artventures as a sculptor and designer, Gülnar's inspiration and sculpture mission, and lastly about her most recent exhibitions created at local galleries.
KingstonWire / Mia Altamuro, February 8, 2025
ASK Sculpture Show Tries to Get to the Meaning of Being
The article is about the STATE OF BEING Exhibition curated by Gülnar Babayeva, featuring 16 Hudson Valley Sculptors/Artists. Mentions Babayeva's work as a curator, her inspiration for exhibition and background in the arts. For more details view article online on KingstonWire, or check the link below.