Photo: Instagram / Elena Ladik
Elena Ladik is an art historian and clothing designer, a member of the Khunarmand Association of Craftsmen, and founder of the famous Happy Bird Gallery in Samarkand. Elena Ladik's gallery has been awarded the Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice 2025 mark and was mentioned by Vogue Russia as one of the best places to visit in Samarkand.
Meet Elena Ladik: The Vision Behind Happy Bird
Elena Ladik was born 1952 in Ukraine. She received her degree in art history from the Ilya Repin Academy of Arts in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). She then worked for many years in the art department of the Fergana Regional Museum of Local Lore (now the Fergana Regional Museum of History and Culture).
Her work involved active participation in exhibitions showcasing the diversity and value of Uzbek crafts, many of which were held in Samarkand. Inspired by the city’s history and creative potential, Elena Ladik decided to move there with her family and start her own business. In 2005, the Happy Bird Gallery opened – an original art space known for its warm, home-like atmosphere.
The gallery exhibits and sells a wide range of applied arts, but its most notable collection consists of women’s chapanas and traditional robes. Elena Ladik has presented her clothing line at exhibitions and craft fairs in Uzbekistan, as well as at international events in Russia, China, and Qatar.
Inside the Gallery: A Space of Art, Craft, and Meaning
Happy Bird is located in the Craftsmen's Center, within a historic caravanserai building from the last century. The interior features luxurious handmade Uzbek carpets, national-style clothing, finely crafted Uzbek textiles, authentic Rishta ceramics, antique jewelry, paintings, patterned suzani, figurines, and graphic art. These objects evoke the warmth and richness of an elegant, informal home. The interior design was created by Elena Ladik herself.
Most items at Happy Bird are available for purchase, but commercial sales are not the gallery’s primary focus. As Elena Ladik explains: “The loss of authenticity is a sad phenomenon happening in the world. Surrogates, whether artificial products, synthetic fabrics, or insincere relationships between people, have flooded all spheres of life. Maintaining quality – at least at the level of the material and cultural values, and human relationships offered by the gallery – is a priority for the Happy Bird.”
The gallery is built on key principles: promoting Uzbek folk crafts and art, using only locally sourced natural materials, providing fair pay, and supporting ambitious and talented artists.
As for the gallery’s distinctive name, Elena Ladik compares herself and other creatives to birds: daily life may be challenging, but in moments of creative flight, they feel truly free and happy. Birds have become the gallery’s symbol, and their figures – crafted in various styles and sizes – can be found throughout the space, giving it a special charm.
One-of-a-Kind Creations: The Gallery’s Artistic Treasures
Visitors often refer to the Happy Bird Gallery as an “Ali Baba’s Cave.” Indeed, each work of art preserved here is one of a kind. The gallery houses pieces by both ancient artisans and celebrated contemporary craftsmen of Uzbekistan – many of whom not only display their works here but also remain regular guests at the salon.
The collection centers on designer clothing in traditional Uzbek vintage style. The gallery’s artisans source antique fabrics stored in Samarkand chests for decades and transform them into garments that are striking in both material quality and tailoring.
Only 50–60 outfits are produced each year. Each piece is unique and considered a work of art. Elena Ladik personally searches for and selects the fabrics, prepares them, designs the garments, and chooses the accessories. Skilled seamstresses and embroiderers then complete the process, adding the signature detail of traditional Uzbek craftsmanship. Prices for these outfits range from $200 to $2,000.
A New Chapter: Happy Bird Expands in Samarkand
A second branch of the Happy Bird Gallery has opened in the new tourist complex “Eternal City” in Samarkand. The first floor features an exhibition of vintage garments in ethnic style, primarily outerwear such as chapanas and handmade jackets. The interior has the ambiance of a historical museum, echoing the atmosphere of the original gallery in the Craftsmen's Center.
Serving freshly brewed coffee has been a beloved tradition at the Happy Bird Gallery for nearly 20 years. Rooted in Uzbek hospitality, this practice continues at the new location, where a coffee shop is planned for the second floor. It will offer guests a welcoming space for conversation and themed events centered on textiles, clothing, and traditional crafts of Uzbekistan.
Visitor Information
Main Branch – Craftsmen’s Center
- Address: 43a, Islam Karimov Street, Samarkand
- Phone: (+998 66) 233‑15‑48, (+998 93) 720‑42‑15
- Opening hours: Everyday, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Website: https://www.h-b-art.com/
Second Branch – Eternal City Complex
- Situated inside the cultural‑historical "Eternal City" open‑air complex (Silk Road Samarkand area)
- Open daily 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – matching the branch’s operational hours, in alignment with the complex's general schedule of 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.