Rashad Babayev is a painter and installation artist belonging to a young generation of Azerbaijani artists that are transforming the contemporary art landscape of Baku. His artistic style reflects an entrenched expressionist yet minimalist approach utilizing different colors as his language. His debut solo exhibition was in 2004, in 2005 he became a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan and ever since he has taken part in numerous international exhibitions across the globe, as well as the 55th Venice Biennale. Babayev’s works are held in the Museum of Modern Art in Baku, Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX-XXI Centuries, YARAT Contemporary Art Space and other private collections. Babayev was handpicked to be a part of Fly to Baku, a travelling contemporary art exhibition showcasing the finest Azerbaijani talent across Moscow, Rome, Baku, Vienna, Paris and Berlin. He recently expanded his artistic practice into scriptwriting and filmmaking - for which he was awarded Azerbaijan Cinematographists Union promotional diploma. Painting artist since 2000; first personal exhibition in 2004; took part in many international exhibitions in Istanbul, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome (etc.) and also 55th Venetian Art Biennale; works are found in Modern Art Museum in Baku and private collections (local and international). Writes scripts since 2012; at a scriptwriters competition in 2013 receives Azerbaijan Cinematographers Union’s promotional diploma (for screenplay Memory); shot his debut short based on his own script in 2013. Directed four short films and feature film, participated in different international film festivals around the world, including “A” category film festival.
