Born in 1968 in Baku, Azerbaijan, painter Niyaz Najafov gained international recognition when he represented his country at the Venice Biennale in 2009. In 2010, Najafov relocated to Paris, where he embarked on a journey of exhibiting his work throughout Western Europe and across the globe. His artistic journey culminated in the inclusion of his works in esteemed collections such as the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rovereto in Italy, and numerous private collections worldwide. Najafov’s evocative works have graced galleries and exhibition spaces in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Egypt, and France.

A self-taught artist, Najafov’s profound existential introspections find expression through his paintings. His portrayal of everyday scenes resonates with exceptional intensity, offering viewers a glimpse into the depth of his emotional landscape. Najafov’s paintings are often compared to those of the renowned artist Francis Bacon, who was also self-taught. Drawn towards nature and human situations, Niyaz has certainly produced thought-provoking work.

In Paris, where he now lives and works, Najafov began actively painting flowers on found paper and cardboard in 2016. He placed them on various street corners so that people walking past could absorb the work, remove them from the walls, and continue with their journey. To date, over 1000 flowers have been painted and distributed.

According to Niyaz, “You don’t become an artist; you’re probably born one and then evolve into that role during your time here on Earth.”