Najafov originally trained as a soldier as well as coaching hand-to-hand combat, and it was only in 2004 that he began to experiment with oil paints. Inspired by other self-taught artists such as Paul Gauguin and Francis Bacon, it was only five years before the artist came to represent his country at the Azerbaijan Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale. Najafov has also exhibited in Paris, Moscow, Berlin and Geneva and his works are held in both national and international collections.