Turkmenistan is often portrayed by Western travellers through the spectacle of the “Gates of Hell” and the marble-white city of Ashgabat. Yet far less attention is given to another side of the country’s past: its forgotten Soviet mosaics.

Scattered across cities, factories, public spaces, and buildings – these works preserve a striking artistic legacy from the time of the Soviet Union. In many ways, they are the true hidden art of Central Asia, quietly enduring beyond Turkmenistan’s familiar tourist trail.

The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic: Soviet Turkmenistan

Historically, the region was shaped by nomadic Turkmen tribes, Persian cultural influence, and later the expansion of the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks gradually extended their control across Central Asia, and by 1924 the area was reorganized into the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic within the USSR.

Soviet rule brought rapid industrialisation, collectivisation, and the construction of planned cities and infrastructure. It also reshaped Turkmen identity through education, ideology, and a strong emphasis on monumental public art. Many of the mosaics and murals that still survive today were created during this period, reflecting both artistic experimentation and the broader Soviet vision for Turkmenistan.

The Artistic Style of Soviet Mosaic In Turkmenistan

Soviet mosaics in Central Asia often reflected the distinct cultural identity of each republic. In Turkmenistan, these mosaics depicted folklore, traditional dresses, local customs, and regional motifs, while simultaneously promoting broader Soviet ideals such as industrial progress, collectivism, space exploration, and national unity, particularly during the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Although many carried clear political symbolism, they were also remarkably artistic works that blended socialist realism with vibrant local cultural expressions and regional design traditions.

Photographing Turkmenistan’s Soviet Mosaic Heritage

Documenting Turkmenistan’s remaining Soviet mosaics can be a challenging undertaking. Securing a visa is notoriously difficult, and access to many areas can be restricted or tightly controlled. As a result, most standard group tours tend to focus on the country’s more visible landmarks, leaving its quieter Soviet-era heritage largely unexplored.

A small number of adventurous travellers have gone beyond the usual tourist trail to document Turkmenistan’s Soviet mosaics, including F. Davies and G. Mattu, who generously allowed their images to be featured in this blog.

Visiting Soviet Mosaic Sites in Turkmenistan Today

For those interested in these forgotten mosaics, it often requires more independent planning, patience, and a willingness to look beyond the usual tourist routes.

This is why the Atlas Sovieticus and Privet Tours are collaborating to help you see and discover the hidden and forgotten Soviet mosaics of Turkmenistan. This carefully curated itinerary (March 4th – March 13th 2027) has been developed through extensive on-the-ground research.

Join us exclusively in Turkmenistan to explore a side of the country that is rarely seen and often overlooked!