{{Short description|Azerbaijani artist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Arif Aziz | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1943|1|3}} | birth_place = Baku, Azerbaijan | alma_mater = Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1998–present | spouse = {{marriage|Farida Azizova|1988}} | children = 3 }} '''Arif Aziz''' (or: Ариф Азиз; born 3 January 1943<ref>https://www.arifazizbeyaz.com/about/</ref><ref>https://www.edebiyyatveincesenet.az/index.php/az/memarliq-foto/item/5360-khalg-raessam-arif-aezizin-80-illik-yubileyinae-haesr-olunmush-saerzhi-ach-ladzag</ref> in Baku; with full name: Aziz Arif Mokhubali / Азиз Ариф Мохубали) is an artist from Azerbaijan, living and teaching in its capital, Baku. He is one of Azerbaijan's internationally known contemporary artists and serves as his country's Ambassador for Peace, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Republic and Professor at Azerbaijani State University of Art and Culture.
== Life == Arif Aziz was born in Baku in 1943, where he lives and works. He studied at first, between 1957 and 1962, at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art. He then studied graphic design in Moscow for five years. Since the early 1970s, he teaches fine arts at the country's art schools. In 2005, he took the chair of painting at Beykent University in Istanbul, Turkey, which he held until 2007. After that, he became Dean of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art.<ref>{{cite web|last1=ОКУНЕВА|first1=ОЛЕСЯ|title=АХ ВЕРНИСАЖ, АХ ВЕРНИСАЖ…|url=http://nargismagazine.az/3239|publisher=Nargis Magazine|accessdate=3 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Querschnitt aus dem Schaffen des Malers Arif Aziz|url=http://www.badische-zeitung.de/riegel/querschnitt-aus-dem-schaffen-des-malers-arif-aziz--101459476.html|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=Badische Zeitung|date=7 March 2015}}</ref>
Arif Aziz is married to Farida Azizova. They have three daughters. Aysel Aziz, Ayan Aziz Mammadova and Aylal Heydarova.{{fact|date=May 2026}}
== Works == When Aziz initially began painting he had to follow the teachings of socialist realism, which required that he paint glorified depictions of communist values.<ref name=Day>{{cite news|last1=Beluzade|first1=Melek|title=Художник Ариф Азиз Бейяз: "Сегодня вам никто не запретит провести свою выставку"|url=http://news.day.az/culture/186272.html|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=Day.az|date=21 December 2009}}</ref> Despite this restriction he found a way to go around the restrictions of Soviet times and painted attractions, cities, and landscapes of his homeland in a figurative art style.<ref name=Day /> In his art Aziz also combines the human face with traditional ornaments from his homeland, as well as influences gathered during travels to Africa, Moscow, Paris, Turkey and India.<ref name=Day />
Aziz is credited as helping to shape a school of abstractionism that has impacted many young Azerbaijanian artists.<ref name=Day />
== Collections and public exhibitions==
===Public collections === Works by Arif Aziz can be found in the following collections:<ref>{{cite news|title=В Баку торжественно отметили 90-летие Азербайджанского университета культуры и искусств|url=http://azertag.az/ru/xeber/V_Baku_torzhestvenno_otmetili_90_letie_Azerbaidzhanskogo_universiteta_kultury_i_iskusstv-112392|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=AzerTag|date=19 December 2013}}</ref> * ''Azerbaijan Carpet Museum'' in Baku * ''Baku Museum of Modern Art'' * ''Moscow Museum of Modern Art'' * ''Senegal State Art Museum'' in Dakar
===Exhibitions (selected)=== The following are selected exhibits where Aziz' work has been displayed as either a solo work or as part of a main group exhibition.<ref>{{cite web|title=ARIF AZIZ|url=http://www.schultzberlin.com/en/arif-aziz|publisher=Schultz Berlin|accessdate=3 July 2015}}</ref>
* solo show: ''Dance of Spirit'', Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin 2015<ref>{{cite news|title=Азербайджанский художник покоряет Германию – ФОТО|url=http://news.day.az/culture/575085.html|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=Day.az|date=29 April 2015}}</ref> * solo show: RTR Gallery, Paris 2013<ref>{{cite news|last1=Aliyev|first1=Askar|title=In Paris sich die Personalausstellung des aserbaidschanischen Künstlers eröffnet|url=https://azertag.az/de/xeber/In_Paris_sich_die_Personalausstellung_des_aserbaidschanischen_Kunstlers_eroffnet-265338|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=AzerTac|date=29 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Azerbaijani artist's solo exhibition opens in France|url=http://azertag.az/en/xeber/Azerbaijani_artists_solo_exhibition_opens_in_France-232455|publisher=Azertag|accessdate=3 July 2015}}</ref> * group show: Central House of Artists, Moscow 2011<ref>{{cite news|title=Moscow hosts exhibition of Azerbaijani artists and sculptors|url=http://www.today.az/view.php?id=81307|accessdate=3 July 2015|publisher=Today.az|date=23 February 2011}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * Arif Aziz: ''Dance of Spirit'', (exhibition catalogue, edd. by Kunsthalle Messmer, Galerie Michael Schultz, Kunsthalle Dresden), Berlin 2015 * Arsalan Mohammed und Hans Bussert, ''From Baku to Berlin'', in: SLEEK – THE VISUAL CONTEMPORARY, Spring 2015, Berlin 2015, pp. 84–91
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|http://www.arifazizart.com/}} * [http://www.artnewera.com/missiya.html Arif Aziz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707154313/http://www.artnewera.com/missiya.html |date=7 July 2020 }} at the ''World Academy of the Arts'', Baku * [http://www.schultzberlin.com/en/arif-aziz Gallery representation] at Michael Schultz Gallery, Berlin, Seoul, Beijing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aziz, Arif}} Category:Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts alumni Category:1943 births Category:Contemporary painters Category:Living people Category:Artists from Baku Category:Azerbaijani expatriates in Turkey Category:Academic staff of Beykent University Category:Recipients of the Azerbaijan SSR Lenin Komsomol Prize