On December 26, the opening ceremony of the exhibition “25 Years of an Artistic Journey”, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, was held at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art.

The event was attended by numerous representatives of the scientific and cultural community and the public. Speeches were delivered by Natig Aliyev, Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts; Farhad Khalilov, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan; Idris Isayev, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan; People’s Artist Omar Eldarov; Jeyran Mahmudova, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts; Kamila Dadashzade, Rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory; prominent statesman and public figure Hasan Hasanov; and Shirin Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art. The speakers reflected on the Academy’s 25-year path of development.

It was emphasized that the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 2000 by a Decree signed at the initiative of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of higher education in the field of fine arts in the country. Today, the Academy plays an important role as a leading higher education institution that preserves national artistic traditions and trains professional specialists in all areas of fine and decorative arts.

Following the speeches, the participants viewed the exhibition.

The exhibition, showcasing the creative work of the Academy’s faculty, features works of painting, sculpture, graphics, and decorative and applied arts. Alongside works by renowned representatives of Azerbaijani fine art—N. Aliyev, F. Salayev, S. Mammadov, S. Mirzazade, E. Mikayilzade, J. Huseynov, M. Huseynov, N. Ahmadova, and others—the exhibition also presents works by talented young artists such as B. Yusifov, R. Mammadov, R. Garayev, N. Mammadov, J. Aghayev, and others whose artistic searches have been shaped within the Academy’s creative environment.

The exposition also includes works by prominent graduates of the national art school formed in 1920, such as B. Mirzazade, D. Kazimov, and O. Sadiqzade. It is worth noting that this school later served as a strong creative and pedagogical foundation for the establishment of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts.

The exhibition, which will run until January 10, 2026, offers a comprehensive presentation of the creative environment formed at the Academy, the intergenerational continuity of artistic traditions, and the development path of Azerbaijani fine art.