Usta Shirin Murodov

Usta Shirin Murodov (was born on August 18, 1879, Bukhara, Bukhara Emirate – December 2, 1957, Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR) was a Soviet Uzbek master artist – a painter, pottery craftsman, and folklorist. He was an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan SSR (1943) and a distinguished artist recognized for his contributions to the art in the Uzbek SSR (1943). He was also the recipient of the First Degree Stalin Prize (1948).

Biography
Shirin learned his craft from his father, Master Murod, and his grandfather, Master Nosir. He started practicing art from a young age and learned the skill from his family. As an independent artist, he participated in the decoration of the Karmana Palace of the Emir of Bukhara and the White Hall of the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa summer palace, where he gained recognition. In his artistic creations, Shirin was particularly known for his pottery craftsmanship. He used traditional patterns and shapes in new and innovative ways and the ganch technology he created was also used in the renovation of the Romanov Palace. In his early work, he used pottery as a canvas for his artwork, creating stunning and intricate pottery pieces

Usta Shirin also decorated many clubs, public buildings, and memorial structures with his pottery works. He adorned various venues, including the Uzbek SSR Pavilion at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, the pavilions of the Turkmenistan SSR (1938), the Tashkent Circus, the Navoi Theater (Bukhara Hall), the Muqimi Theater, the Alisher Navoi Literary Museum, and others. He also contributed to the restoration of historical monuments such as the ruined part of the Samanid Mausoleum, the Mir Arab Madrasa, the Abdulaziz Khan Madrasa domes, and the minarets in front of the Magoki Attori Mosque.

Usta Shirin passed away on February 12, 1957, and was buried in the Chigatoy cemetery in Tashkent.

Awards

 * Stalin Prize of the First Degree (1948)
 * "Заслуженный артист Узбекской ССР" (1943).(Honored Artist of the Uzbek SSR) (1943)
 * Order of Lenin
 * Order of the Red Banner of Labor and medals
 * "Почетный член Академии наук Узбекской ССР" (Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR) (1943)
 * Order of Outstanding merit (2001) - posthumously