Biography
Born in Baku in 1946, Farhad Khalilov is an Azerbaijani painter whose work has developed from figurative landscape toward abstraction. The sea and landscapes of the Absheron Peninsula remain recurrent subjects, expressed through colour, space and reduced forms.
He studied in Baku and Moscow and began exhibiting in the 1960s. He has chaired the Artists’ Union of Azerbaijan since 1987. Solo exhibitions have been held in Baku, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, London and Tbilisi.
Education
1961–1966Azerbaijan State Art School named after A. Azimzade, Baku.
1966–1968Moscow Higher Art-Industrial School (Stroganov).
1969–1975Moscow Polygraphic Institute.
Positions
1987–presentChair of the Artists’ Union of Azerbaijan.
Awards and Honours
2026İstiqlal Order (Order of Independence), Republic of Azerbaijan.
2024Jubilee Medal “100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923–2023)”, Azerbaijan.
2023Şərəf Medal (Medal of Honour), TÜRKSOY.
2021Əmək Order, First Degree (Order of Labour, First Class), Azerbaijan.
2016Şərəf Order (Order of Honour), Azerbaijan.
2016Stars of the Commonwealth Interstate Award, CIS (announced in 2017).
2012Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts, Russia.
2008Honorary Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Russia.
2006Şöhrət Order (Order of Glory), Azerbaijan.
2006Grand Prix, Tehran Biennale, Iran.
2002People's Artist of Azerbaijan.
2000Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), France.
2000Commemorative Gold Medal of the Artists' Union of Russia, marking the bicentenary of Alexander Pushkin.
1988Honoured Art Worker of the Azerbaijan SSR.
1987Silver Medal of the USSR Academy of Arts.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2026Mənim Abşeronum. Solo exhibition dedicated to Farhad Khalilov's 80th anniversary. Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, Baku. 27 October 2026 – 26 March 2027. Opening: 26 October 2026.
2023–2024Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX–XXI Centuries, Baku
2019Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku
2016State Museum of Oriental Art / VDNKh, Moscow
2015Saatchi Gallery, London
2014Gallery of Berlin City Administration, Berlin, Germany
2012Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
2011Acquaintance — The Great Room @ 1508, 7 Howick Place, London SW1, United Kingdom · 6–19 October 2011. Curator: Nadim Julien Samman.
2008State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2007State Museum Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
2004Gallery of Berlin City Administration, Berlin, Germany
2000Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France
Selected Publications
2015Farkhad Khalilov. Saatchi Gallery, London. Exhibition catalogue.
Selected Joint and Group Exhibitions
2025Once a Sea · Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX–XXI Centuries, Baku (group)
2023Pink-Black · Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX–XXI Centuries, Baku (group)
2023Heydar Aliyev: 100 Favourite Works · Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, Baku (group)
2020The New Verge · Gazelli Art House, London (joint)
2018–2019Labour, Leisure and Dreams — 1960s–1980s Through the Eyes of Azerbaijani Masters · Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX–XXI Centuries, Baku (group)