On June 17, the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art (ANMA) hosted the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Elbey Rzaguliyev. An Artist Who Created with His Heart”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elbey Rzaguliyev, an outstanding representative of the national fine arts and People's Artist of Azerbaijan. Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, the exhibition features nearly 80 paintings, graphic works, and film sketches from the collections of the ANMA, the Azerbaijan State Art Gallery, and the artist’s family collection.

Among the speakers at the event were Polad Bulbuloglu, Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and People's Artist; Murad Huseynov, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Dr. Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art and PhD in Art Studies; Salhab Mammadov, People's Artist and Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts; and Ayten Rzaguliyeva, artist, Senior Lecturer at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, and daughter of Elbey Rzaguliyev. In their speeches, they emphasized Elbey Rzaguliyev’s significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijani fine arts and cinema as an important branch of his artistic career, noting that his rich artistic legacy occupies a special place in the national culture. The speakers also shared their memories of the artist, recalling his outstanding personal qualities.

The opening ceremony continued with a musical programme featuring People's Artists Ulviyya Hajibeyova and Salman Gambarov, the artist’s daughter and Senior Lecturer at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts Aytaj Rzaguliyeva, and Mert Kopuz.

One of the key sections of the exhibition “Elbey Rzaguliyev. An Artist Who Created with His Heart”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the artist’s birth and organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, brings together Elbey Rzaguliyev’s works devoted to the urban and rural life of Azerbaijan and the landscapes of his native land. The Absheron Peninsula became an inseparable part of the artist’s creative world. The works he created during the many years spent in his studio in Pirshagi reflect his deep attachment to his homeland and his poetic vision of nature and everyday life.

The themes of people and labour occupy a special place in the artist’s oeuvre. Oil workers, builders, ship repair workers, geodesists, and other representatives of the working class are the central figures of his works. In such series as “Sumgait Is Being Built”, “Builders”, “People of the Land”, “Working People”, and “At the Construction Site”, the spiritual strength, professional dignity, and love of life of working people are expressed through a highly artistic visual language. A special place in this section is occupied by the triptych “Builders”, preserved in the collection of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art.

Another important aspect of the exhibition is the collection of works created as a result of Elbey Rzaguliyev’s travels abroad. His journeys to various countries enriched his artistic vision and introduced new themes and images into his work. The series dedicated to Mexico, the United States, Africa, Japan, Nepal, Italy, and other countries depict architectural monuments, cityscapes, scenes of everyday life, and portraits of people. These works clearly demonstrate the artist’s sensitive perception of different cultures, his keen powers of observation, and his ability to portray human character.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the display of portraits of the artist created by his colleagues and friends Toğrul Narimanbayov, Hasan Hagverdiyev, and the Georgian artist B. Samalashvili. The exhibition also features footage from the feature films “Qəm pəncərəsi” (“The Window of Sorrow”) and “Sevil”, as well as the animated film “Fitnə”, for which Elbey Rzaguliyev served as production designer. In order to introduce visitors more closely to the artist’s personality, the exhibition also presents a video featuring photographs reflecting his family life, circle of friends, creative activity, and different periods of his life.

The exhibition will remain open until August 31, 2026.