Currently, there are four leading ceramists in our country whose works are recognizable and beloved. They are Solmaz Mukhammedova, Maral Ataeva, Gulyara Babaeva and Dilber Umarova. Each has her own creative direction, so it is impossible to confuse them.

Today we visited Maral Ataeva's workshop. Notably, the sign "Yarly Bayramov's Workshop" remains on the door. People's Artist of Turkmenistan Yarly Bayramov passed away several years ago, but Maral Bahshievna kept the sign in memory of her husband, turning their joint workshop into a small museum of a great artist. Upon entering, one notices a portrait of Maral Bahshievna by Yarly Bayramov in Modigliani's style. The portrait is so well done that there is no need to adjust it. Next to it is a photo of the young and charming couple, Yarly and Maral.

In my line of work, I often visit artists' workshops, but I have never seen such neatness. The expression "creative mess" does not apply to Maral Ataeva's workshop. Everything is in its place like in a museum. Yarly Bayramov's paintings cover the walls, while Maral Bahshievna's works are neatly arranged in several rows on a large shelf.

The shelf resembles a cheerful cartoon with many characters. Looking at them, one feels that Maral Ataeva could have been an animator. From the top shelf, several original compositions feature the Jabpak brothers. In one case, mischievous boys complete glove fingers—a puppet theater performance; in another, a pyramid of five brothers joyfully jumps on a goat.

Other shelves display decorative images of Turkmen women, a couple in love, a camel from a wedding procession, tastefully made vessels and vases, Dadaism-style horses, and many cute cats painted in colorful stripes.

Maral Ataeva exhibited 14 works at the Modern Exhibition in the Art Gallery of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan. We viewed the exhibited works and did not miss the chance to visit her workshop.