Umit Zhubanysheva

My name is Umit Zhubanysheva, and I was born on June 19, 1969, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. With a career spanning over three decades, I've explored diverse realms of creativity—from animation at the esteemed Kazakhfilm studio to costume designing for films and illustrating for major publishing houses. I'm perhaps best known for my award-winning animation, "Looking for an Heir to the Home," which has garnered international acclaim, including the Grand-prix at the Tokyo Anime Awards. My work, characterized by a deep connection to Kazakh culture, has been exhibited widely and is housed in prestigious collections both in Kazakhstan and England. Driven by a passion to tell stories visually, I continue to contribute to both the art and film industries, aiming to inspire and engage audiences around the world.

From a young age, I was enamored with the arts, a passion that led me to graduate from art school in 1982 and later from Karaganda Buketov University in 2008.
In 2001, I ventured into publishing, taking up roles as a designer, artist, and illustrator with several distinguished Kazakh magazines such as Aigolek and Almatykitap, among others. My tenure in publishing was marked by a dedication to detail and a pursuit of artistic distinction. From 2008 to 2012, I also served as an editing director for documentaries, a role that challenged me to convey compelling stories through the visual medium.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of showcasing my work in several solo exhibitions, with notable shows titled "One Day in My Auyl," "A Life on a Pumpkin," and "A Caravan of Feelings."