In 1945, the Central Asian State Institute of Theatre Arts was established in Tashkent, and in 1948 it was named after the Russian playwright A.N. Ostrovsky. In 1954, fine arts education programs were introduced within the institute, which led to the establishment of academic art education at the Tashkent Institute of Theatre and Fine Arts.

This institution became an important educational center not only for Uzbekistan but for the entire region. It made a significant contribution to the development of fine arts in Central Asia and, for many years, responsibly fulfilled the task of training qualified specialists for the region.

The higher education in fine arts established in 1954 at the Institute of Theatre Arts had a profound impact on the development of fine arts in our country. In this process, the contributions of well-known artists such as R.A. Ahmedov and O.K. Tatevosyan deserve special recognition. In addition, graduates of the I.E. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture played a major role in the establishment of this faculty. Most of them were graduates of 1953 and were actively involved in developing higher art education in our country from 1954 onwards.

The establishment of the Department of Painting at the institute laid the foundation for the opening of other specialized departments.

The first student intake took place in 1954, with 22 students admitted to the first year, and the first graduates completed their studies in 1960. In 1956, the painting program was divided into two specializations — easel painting and theatre design.

Among the first faculty members of the department were O.K. Tatevosyan (Head of Department), R.A. Ahmedov, and V.A. Riftin. In subsequent years, many distinguished artist-educators such as A.A. Godetsky, V.A. Riftin, Ch.G. Akhmarov, A.A. Goldrey, P.A. Yurovsky, P.P. Matsekha, K. Salokhitdinov, T.P. Reshetnikova, B. Shupak, V.P. Sosedov, V.I. Zhmakin, G.A. Vizel, A.P. Perov, V.A. Nechaev, G.V. Moiseev, and V.L. Zhdanov carried out teaching activities at the department.