Baku, October 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughters, Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, visited the retrospective exhibition “My Absheron & More,” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of renowned Azerbaijani artist Farhad Khalilov, at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art on October 27.
According to AZERTAC, the exhibition has been jointly organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, and the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, which is chaired by Khalilov, a People’s Artist of Azerbaijan.
The exhibition features more than 90 works from Khalilov’s personal collection, spanning the 1960s to the present day. The displayed pieces encompass a diverse range of artistic expressions, from monumental paintings to small-format graphic works, offering visitors an overview of the artist’s creative journey and artistic development.
Khalilov is regarded as one of the prominent figures in Azerbaijani fine arts, distinguished by his distinctive artistic style, rich creative legacy, and individual vision. His work encompasses various genres of easel painting and combines diverse approaches, ranging from realism to avant-garde and abstract art.
His paintings are particularly notable for their varied artistic forms, distinctive colour palettes, and the emotional depth with which he portrays landscapes and surrounding spaces.
The Absheron Peninsula occupies a central place in Khalilov’s artistic career, particularly through his landscape paintings. Inspired by personal observations and impressions, he captures the region’s natural environment, coastal scenery, villages, changing weather conditions, and unique atmosphere through his individual interpretation of colour and light.
For Khalilov, Absheron represents more than a geographical setting; it serves as a central source of inspiration through which he conveys his emotions, thoughts, and worldview. His works therefore extend beyond the visual depiction of landscapes, expressing deeper personal and emotional experiences.
Graphic art also constitutes an important dimension of Khalilov’s creative output. His works in this field, produced in different formats and through varied artistic techniques, demonstrate his versatility and continuing exploration of form and composition.
The retrospective exhibition traces the evolution of the Absheron theme throughout Khalilov’s career, highlighting its enduring significance in shaping his distinctive artistic language and contribution to Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.
