Artist Bio

I was born in 1983 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Thanks to the fact that my father was a sculptor and my mother used to teach music at a local conservatory, I grew up constantly exposed to the world of visual and performing arts. In January 1990, due to the increasingly threatening political situation in the region, my family had to leave everything behind and flee to Moscow, Russia. When my father passed away in 1991, my mother really struggled to make a living. Then my grandmother died the following year, which made it even more difficult for my mother to cope with things. Our living situation was quite miserable. We moved frequently from one apartment to another not being able to afford the ever-increasing rent. The last place we lived in Moscow was a tiny (160 sq. ft.) room in a former dormitory crowded with refugees like ourselves. We managed to endure that little enclave of Hell on Earth for some 13 years, and when there was finally an opportunity to escape that existence (nearly 10 years ago), we came to the United States. That change of scenery made me firmly decide to follow in my father’s footsteps and become an artist.

Artist Statement

“In the beginning of my artistic career, I was greatly influenced by Surrealism and the incorporation of elements of surprise and unexpected juxtapositions in an artwork. These ideas are still found in my oeuvre but in the contemporary context by combining my tight control of the medium with a partial reliance on chance.

When painting, I tend to give more preference to landscapes than any other genre because I feel an endless urge to connect with nature, particularly with non-urban spaces, in order to escape (at least metaphorically) from the routine of everyday life that is often full of stress and frustration.

I’m always open to experimentation, and I favor all kinds of “accidents” in my work because I believe that everything is done for a reason whether we realize it or not. At times, I completely let the subconscious guide my hand, which often brings about unanticipated yet satisfying results.

Generally, I tend to create scarcely representational semi-abstract works with subtle hints of symbolism that in one way or another echo my inner world. By allegorically pouring my deepest feelings and emotions onto the canvas, I intentionally give my paintings a feel of transcendent melancholy that is compelled to grasp the viewers’ attention and make them wonder about the subject matter of the piece.”