The international publication AD (Architectural Digest) has released a list of the most anticipated museums set to open in 2025. This list includes cultural landmarks from around the world – from the Cartier Foundation in Paris to the New Museum of Art in Naoshima. Among the 11 most anticipated museums of 2025 are institutions in the USA, UAE, Japan, France, and the Netherlands. The list also features the private contemporary art museum of Nurlan Smagulov, the Almaty Museum of Arts, designed by the British architectural firm Chapman Taylor, which has projects in 60 countries.
AD notes that 2025 will be an especially eventful year for new museum openings, offering unique opportunities to explore art and architecture. “As if in unison, leading global architects have created impressive buildings: the long-awaited Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi, which has been in the works for over a decade; the Cartier Foundation by Jean Nouvel in Paris; the futuristic Fenix museum by MAD Architects in Rotterdam (the same studio behind the Lucas Museum in Los Angeles); the Sheikh Zayed National Museum by Foster + Partners in Abu Dhabi; and the new Museum of Art in Naoshima, designed by Tadao Ando,” AD writes.
As Forbes Kazakhstan previously reported, the total investment in Smagulov's project will exceed $100 million, covering the construction of the museum building, the acquisition of artworks, and the establishment of an endowment fund to cover museum expenses.
The Almaty Museum of Arts collection will feature works by Kazakhstani artists such as Aisha Galimbayeva, Salikhitdin Aitbayev, Abdrashit Sydykhanov, Rustam Khalfin, and Yerbosyn Meldibekov, among others. It will also include works by international artists such as Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer, Bill Viola, and Alexander Calder.
Visitors to the world’s largest museums line up to see the “Infinity Rooms” – immersive installations by legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Kusama’s work “Love is Calling,” acquired by the Almaty Museum of Arts, was exhibited in 2024 at SFMOMA in San Francisco, attracting over 200,000 visitors in just a few months.
“We are thrilled that our visitors will now have the opportunity to see this unique piece in our museum,” said Nurlan Smagulov during a media tour of the museum construction site.
The mission of the museum’s team is to strengthen Almaty’s position on the global art scene. Step by step, they are achieving this goal, as international publications write about the Almaty Museum of Arts and Kazakhstan.
AD’s article about the Almaty museum states: “This will be the first private contemporary art museum in Central Asia, showcasing works by international stars such as Yayoi Kusama, Fernand Léger, and Anselm Kiefer, as well as local artists like Aisha Galimbayeva. The building’s minimalist geometry was designed by the British firm Chapman Taylor.”
AD (Architectural Digest) is an international publication about design, architecture, and lifestyle. It publishes articles about the most outstanding interiors, buildings, renowned architects, and designers. Founded in the USA in 1920, the magazine has since become the leading global publication in the field of architecture and design.
