<div>Dear Patrons of the Arts &amp; Sculpture Lovers,
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<div>The Figurative Sculpture Fund helps me continue a dedicated studio practice that cultivates &amp; advances contemporary figurative sculpting in the Hudson Valley, NY. It allows continued funding of studio initiatives &amp; processes, including artist fees &amp; related expenses*. <strong>Thank You</strong> for supporting this independent sculptor's mission.
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<div>With much gratitude,
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<div><strong>Gülnar Babayeva </strong>
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<div><strong>Figurative Sculptor &amp; Designer </strong>
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<div><a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gulnarbabayeva.com</a>
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<div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/caspianmuse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@caspianmuse</a> on Instagram
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/caspianmuse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caspian Müse Studio</a> on Facebook
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/69786597_1670512467683464_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>Babayeva during her debut solo exhibition Revival, Arts Society of Kingston, 2021</em>
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<div><strong>GÜLNAR's SCULPTURE MISSION &amp; VISION </strong>
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<div>My love for figurative art propels my mission to make figurative sculpture visible and adequately represented in local galleries &amp; art venues by inspiring new interest in figurative sculpting and making it accessible to the art community &amp; public while pursuing its inclusion and advancement in educational art organizations. The vision to pursue this path was reveled to me in 2020 through inspiration and I have been continuing this artventure ever since, which is evolving thanks to various opportunities serendipitously presented to me.
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<div>Creating my own exhibitions, including curating the <em>STATE OF BEING &amp; THE OTHER DIMENSION</em> exhibitions was a pivotal moment in my creative practice as a representative for sculpture. It allowed me not only to share my own work but also to create a platform for other sculptors exploring existential and metaphysical themes. I was proud to see that the shows resonate with others who, like myself, question and investigate what it means to be alive, who are sculptors by nature and understand that subtle “otherness” feeling within the local art world.
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<div>My mission is to advance figurative sculpture, and while doing so create a community for sculptors and sculpture enthusiasts, to sculpt &amp; exhibit sculpture locally and invite the public to be part of this wave.
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<div>I have had the opportunity to create the following sculpture exhibitions locally, and am grateful to the participating sculptors/artists who understood the mission and shared their work with our community and public.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/69786597_1749317603606407_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><em>Closing reception of the State of Being exhibition curated by Gülnar Babayeva, ASK Jan 26 2025. Curator depicted with the sculpture that visitors were allowed to experience through touch. Existential Simplicity by Isaac Abrams</em>
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<div><strong>EXHIBITIONS CREATED/DESIGNED/CURATED BY GÜLNAR BABAYEVA</strong>
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<div>STATE OF BEING Second Invitational Sculpture Exhibition Curated by Gülnar Babayeva featuring 16 local Hudson Valley sculptors/artists. Dec 7 2024 - Jan 26 2025, Arts Society of Kingston | ASK, Front &amp; Spotlight Galleries, Kingston NY.
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<div>GÜLNAR BABAYEVA SCULPTURE: Figurative &amp; Vessel Art [solo exhibition], Nov 16 - Dec 14 2024, Queen of Rogues Gallery, Glenford NY.
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<div>FROM EARTH TO VESSEL: Gülnar Babayeva &amp; Kalsang Chomphel, exhibition of ceramic works, Sep 7-29 2024, Arts Society of Kingston | ASK, Front Gallery, Kingston NY.
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<div>THE OTHER DIMENSION First Invitational Sculpture Exhibition curated by Gülnar Babayeva, Jul 9 – Aug 28 2022, Olive Branch Gallery in Olivebridge, NY, highlighting the works, primarily figurative &amp; representational, by seven Hudson Valley sculptors from the region.
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<div>REVIVAL Jun 5 - 27, 2021 [Solo Debut Exhibition], Arts Society of Kingston | ASK, Front &amp; Spotlight Galleries, Kingston NY.
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<div>See full exhibition history on my website under Sculpture &gt; <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/exhibition-records/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exhibition History</a>; in a chronological order, it also includes group shows as well as open studio and art fair information.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/69786597_1749317813620887_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><em>Babayeva’s interview with BlueStone Press, Jan 2025 </em>
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<div><strong>IN THE NEWS </strong>
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<div><a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GulnarBabayeva_Interview_BSP-2025-01-10-An-Inspired-Optimist-p-2-combined.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An Inspired Optimist</a>- An interview with Gülnar Babayeva, BlueStone Press, Jan 10, 2025
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<div><a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ASK-Sculpture-Show-Tries-to-Get-to-the-Meaning-of-Being-%2525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525E2%252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252580%252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252594-Kingston-Wire-_-February-8-2025-Mia-Altamuro-_-State-Of-Being-Sculpture-Exhibition-curated-by-Gulnar-Babayeva.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASK Sculpture Show Tries to Get to the Meaning of </a>Being - article in a local press online about the STATE OF BEING Exhibit curated by Gülnar Babayeva, KingstonWire Feb 8, 2025
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<div><a href="https://www.chronogram.com/arts/the-other-dimension-at-olive-branch-studio-and-gallery-16114179" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Other Dimension</a> - article in a local press online about the The Other Dimension Exhibit curated by Gülnar Babayeva, Choronogram Aug 12, 2022
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<div>See full list of press coverage and mentions on my website under About &gt; <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">News</a>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/69786597_1749319156589177_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><em>Gülnar visiting Clark Art Institute in 2022 to see Rodin, a major inspiration &amp; influence in her sculpture practice</em>
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<div><strong>CREATIVE AFFILIATIONS</strong>
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<div>Gülnar Babayeva is an associate member of the National Sculpture Society, as well as an active member of local art organizations such as WAAM | Woodstock Artists Association and Museum, and a former member of the ASK | Arts Society of Kingston Gallery Committee (Jan 2021 - Jan2022, Apr 2023 - Apr 2024) and served as an elected director at the ASK Board of Directors (Jul 2023 - Jun 2025).
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<div>Currently, Babayeva is an independent artist and sculpture instructor, and creates her work and <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/sculpture-workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teaches workshops</a> at a ceramics studio in Kingston, NY. Gülnar Babayeva offers inclusive figurative, portrait, animal sculpting, and vessel design <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/sculpture-workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workshops/classes</a>. She works with &amp; teaches diverse groups of people: youth, adults &amp; elderly.
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<div><em>Celestial Vessels ~ Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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<div><em>In Her Glory ~ Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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<div><strong>How is your contribution to the Figurative Sculpture Fund supporting this initiative?</strong>
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<div>I intend to open the Caspian Müse Studio in a dedicated physical location and expand its reach to the public. Currently, I create at a local ceramics studio in Kingston, NY.
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<div>All funds go towards the startup cost of setting up an alternative sculpture studio and its maintenance over time. This includes rent &amp; utilities, studio equipment: kiln for firing ceramic artwork, turntables, shelving, bases for human models and sculptures; supplies for mold making like plaster, resin, clay for sculpting, paints, wood, armature; power tools; model fees; online/offline workshops; including necessary technologies to explore digital sculpting and artist fees.
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<div>Depending on the studio's size, the plan is to offer private and group figurative sculpting sessions in our new studio. In-person workshops, and open studio hours for everyone interested in exploring figurative sculpture is made available on a membership basis. I am here to guide student’s sculpting journey while we practice our observational skills and creative abilities, and learn to appreciate the transcendent potential held by human/animal vessels.
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<div>My ultimate vision is to make sure the figurative sculpting practice is being cultivated and advanced locally, in the Hudson Valley, where we model a dedicated studio environment with an authentic, enthusiastic, diverse &amp; evolving sculptor community.
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<div><em>Gülnar Babayeva in the studio with her figurative sculptures in progress: Manifestor Child &amp; Sovereign Being </em>
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<div><strong>ARTIST BIO</strong>
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<div>GÜLNAR BABAYEVA is a figurative sculptor &amp; designer at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/caspianmuse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@caspianmuse</a>, based in the Hudson Valley, NY. ⁠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. Gülnar 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.
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<div>Babayeva was awarded the 2022 NYSCA Individual Artist Grant by the New York State Council on the Arts to pursue her artistic <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/figurative-sculpture-mission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vision &amp; mission</a> of cultivating figurative sculpture locally. Babayeva is an associate member of the National Sculpture Society. Her sculpture works have been actively exhibited at local galleries in solo, duo and group <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/exhibition-records/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exhibitions</a>, and acquired for private collections. Babayeva offers <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/sculpture-workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workshops</a> and <a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/creative-services/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative/design collaboration opportunities</a> locally and remotely as Caspian Müse Studio.
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<div>Education: BA in American Studies from Azerbaijan University of Languages; AA in Fine Arts and AS in Advertising Design &amp; Graphic Tech from SUNY Ulster. Select Accolades: Received State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
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<div><em>Gülnar receiving a hug from a double rainbow in Kingston NY 2024 &amp; giving an artist talk at Bank Art Gallery, Newburgh NY 2025</em>
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<div><strong>CONTACT INFO</strong>
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<div><a href="https://gulnarbabayeva.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gulnarbabayeva.com</a> // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/caspianmuse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@caspianmuse</a> studio on instagram &amp; facebook
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<div><em>I SEE YOU ~ Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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<div><strong>SELECT AWARDS</strong>
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<div><strong>2022 NYSCA Individual Artist Grant Award</strong>
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<div>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 – New York State, USA
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<div><strong>2015 People’s Choice Award Winner</strong> Emerging Artists Exhibition, sculpture Blacklisted – Arts Society of Kingston, Kingston NY, USA
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<div><strong>2012 Statewide SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence</strong> – SUNY Plaza, Albany, NY, USA
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<div><strong>2012 President’s Award for Student Leadership</strong> – SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY, USA
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<div><strong>2011 President’s Award for Student Initiative</strong> – SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY, USA
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<div><em>Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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<div><strong>SELECT SCHOLARSHIPS </strong>
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<div><strong>2025 Richard McDaniel Scholarship</strong> – Woodstock School of Art, Woodstock, NY, USA
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<div><strong>2012–2015 WSA Merit Scholarship</strong> – Woodstock School of Art, Woodstock, NY, USA
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<div><strong>2011–2012 Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Scholarship</strong> – SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY, USA
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<div><em>Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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<div><strong>ART ALLIANCE </strong>
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<div>2022 – PRESENT NSS | National Sculpture Society: Associate Member
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<div>2021 – PRESENT WAAM | Woodstock Artists Association and Museum: Active Member
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<div>2015 – 2025 ASK | Arts Society of Kingston
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<li>Artist Member 2015 - 2025
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<li>Gallery Committee Member JAN 2021 – JAN 2022; APR 2023 – APR 2024
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<li>Elected Director at the ASK Board of Directors JUL 2023 – JUN 2025
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<div><em>Gülnar Babayeva Sculpture </em>
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