From 1937 to 1940, he served as director of the Central State Office for the Protection of Azerbaijani Monuments.

[3] The Azerbaijan State Museum of Art was named after Rustam Mustafayev in 1943.

R. Mustafayev worked as a chief artist at Azerbaijan State Drama Theater in 1933–1938.

[4] He designed works by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, Jafar Jabbarly, Huseyn Javid, Abdurrahim bey Hagverdiyev, operas "Shah Ismayil" (Muslim Magomayev), "Leyli and Majnun" (Uzeyir Hajibeyov), "Koroghlu" (Uzeyir Hajibeyov), "Ashig Garib" (Zulfugar Hajibeyov), ballet "Swan Lake" (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky).

The artistic design of the books of Samad Vurgun, Suleyman Rustam, Rasul Rza and other poets was his first graphic works.