About Asiya

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Asiya Gimborg

Art Historian

My name is Asya Gimborg — a creative pseudonym I chose for publishing my books. Gimborg is my grandmother’s surname, and I dedicated my first book to her.

I am an art historian. In 2018, I graduated with a master's degree from the Saint Petersburg University of Culture and completed a professional retraining course, earning a teaching diploma. That same year, I began teaching art history. My first degree is in public relations, and my love for both art and communication led me to create the blog Asiya_by_art in 2017, which over time grew to 25,000 followers and became the foundation for my educational projects.

Since 2018, I have successfully launched numerous offline and online courses, as well as immersive art trips, which I’d be happy to share more about. In 2021, my online school received an educational license from the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Russian Federation.

Since 2023, I have been a guest lecturer at the Saint Petersburg State University of Culture, where I teach my own course on cross-cultural connections between East and West in art.

Learn More

Podcast "1001 Stories About Art"

In 2024, I launched the podcast "1001 Stories About Art," where I share short notes on art topics and invite various experts for discussions.

listen on Spotify

Books

"The Magnificent century of Ottoman Art"

"In 2022, I signed a contract with one of the top publishers in Russia. The book became a bestseller in the art category, with the first print run of 3,500 copies, followed by a second print run of 3,000.

Publisher page

"The Short story of Islamic Art"

"In 2023, I signed a contract for my second book, which will complement the famous series of books The Short Story of...and will focus on Islamic Art.
The first print run was 5,000 copies.
In the summer of 2024, the book was released to the public."

Publisher page

Publications

Aimed at fellow professionals, these scientific publications are the result of my extensive research on issues related to both specific details and general themes in cross-cultural exchange.

Project in numbers

3739

Students all over the world
247

Lectures about art
30K+

Followers in social media

Offline Projects

Immersive art trips with an art historian to Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Belarus (2022 - present)

Experience the art, beauty, and culture of these incredible countries through immersive travel! Our art trips are perfect for those looking to dive deep into the history and culture of a destination while experiencing its art firsthand.
Each tour features an Author's route that highlights different periods of the country’s history. Programs include several practical workshops—such as ebru, calligraphy, and Ottoman cuisine—led by local experts.
Because art isn’t just something to be seen; it’s something to be experienced!

Art Breakfasts, immersive excursions, creative masterclasses and degustations (2018 - present)

I love creating unforgettable experiences that bring art to life because, for me, art is not just something to be observed—it's something to be fully experienced. This passion led me to develop the concept of hosting art talks that are enriched with unique experiences, such as wine tastings with a professional sommelier, painting sessions, or floral composition workshops.
I find that this immersive approach to art broadens perspectives and transforms how people engage with both art and life. I enjoy sharing this experience with individuals, large corporations as a guest lecturer, and even celebrities as a private guide in the art world.

Discovering Art with Kids, preschool center "New History" (2018 – 2020)

To me, art as always been something that needs to be experienced, not just looked at. And nobody understands this better than kids – who have a natural preference for experiencing things. That's why working with children (age 5-10) at an education centre, teaching them about art history and creativity in an approach tailored to their abilities was a magical experience.
In 2020 this became an online project called "Art Room".

Сreative project "Living masterpieces", 2021

I remember when I was a little girl, my mother subscribed to a glossy magazine, and in each issue, there was a section by the famous photographer Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya in which she reconstructed famous works of art into photography.
Assembling a creative team (make-up artists, hairstylists, background design,… )
I set out to bring this childhood memory to life again and create a moment of magic

Online lectures and certified courses of history of art

Online Lectures

Since 2017, I have been actively involved in educational projects as a guest speaker. In addition, I have diligently researched and prepared over 300 lectures on various painters and styles to deliver engaging and informative presentations covering topics ranging from West to East.

Starting in 2023, I began participating in educational projects created in collaboration with my publisher, expanding the reach of my content. As my approach to art means it isn't just something to be looked at, but something to be experienced, I always strive to make even online lectures as engaging and interactive as possible.
Educational Project:
'Art Academy'

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Islamic art, guided by eight guest experts from various fields. You'll dive into the rich traditions of the Ottoman Empire, Syria, Egypt, India, Uzbekistan, and the Maghreb, with a focus on cultural and historical significance.

Open to all art lovers, this course covers traditional forms like calligraphy, book miniatures, architecture, and design, while exploring their ties to European art and modern fashion. Practical lessons, including Ottoman ornament creation and calligraphy, are supported by curated resources. The program is licensed by Russia's Ministry of Culture and Education.