Soviet artist Mikail Abdullayev

Soviet artist Mikail Abdullayev (December 19, 1921, Baku – August 21, 2002, Baku) – Azerbaijani painter and graphic artist, People’s Artist of the USSR (1963), member of the Academy of Arts (1988). He studied at the Azerbaijan Art College (1935-39) and the Moscow Art Institute of Surikov (1939-49) at SV Gerasimov. During the war, he was not drafted into the army due to the request of the largest Azerbaijani artist Azim Azimzade before the first secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan Mirjafar Bagirov. The artist’s work is dominated by lyrical themes. Author of paintings “Evening” (1947), “Mingechevir Lights” (1948), “The builders of Happiness” (1951), “Indian series” (1957-1960), “Centennial carver A. Babayev” (1961), “Girls of Khachmaz” (1982), “Beyond the river Araks” series of drawings (1950), illustrations to the epos “Kitabi Dede Korkut” (1956) and the poem “Layla and Majnun” (1958). Mikail Abdullayev is the author of the book “Through the eyes of Baku citizen” (1962)

Artist’s work was closely connected with literature. He created portraits of many writers and artists. Among them are such works as “M. Gorky in 1928 in Baku “(1950),” Uzeyir Hajibeyov “(1944),” Samed Vurgun” (1944, 1959, 1975), “M. Akhundov”(1962), “Imadeddin Nasimi” (1973), “The pianist F. Badalbeyli” (1975). Contributed significantly to the artist and book illustrations, in particular, has created illustrations for the works of Nizami, Fuzuli, Vagif Akhundov, Ashug Alaskar, ME Sabir, J. Jabbarli, S. Vurgun, Rasul Rza.

In 1956 – 1971 the artist travels to India, Afghanistan, Poland, Italy and other countries. He created portraits of Indira Gandhi, Guttuso, Moravia, Manzu. As a result, travel in India are such works as “Women of Rajasthan”, “Bengal girl.” For a scenic loop “In India,” in 1970 the Indian government awarded him a gold medal and a diploma of laureate of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award.

Soviet artist Mikail Abdullayev designed “Nizami” metro station, where he created mosaics based on themes of works of Nizami, and his portrait. He also decorated hotel “Absheron” and the palace “Gulustan”. The works of M. Abdullaev were exhibited at international exhibitions in Prague (1957), Beijing (1958), Brussels (1958), Belgrade (1959), Paris (1960), Berlin (1963).

Soviet artist Mikail Abdullayev

Images scanned from the album of All-Russian art exhibition “In the home country.” The works presented at the National Art Exhibition “In the home country”, held in Moscow in 1981, reflect the life of the people, the emergence of the new man, the features of the Soviet way of life. The album widely presented all sections of this interesting exhibition – painting, sculpture, graphics, posters, set design, arts and crafts and folk art.