Shusha is an ancient city of Azerbaijan and the center of Mugham. The Mugham trio is depicted here.
Artist Yusif Mirza.
An Artistic Journey Starting from Lachin.
Yusif Mirza, an artist who stands out with his individual artistic path inspired by the most ancient traditions, an extraordinary creative style, and captivating works, is well-known both in Azerbaijan and abroad. Yusif Mirza was born in 1959 in the ancient village of Sadinlar, Lachin district. He received his primary education at the village's eight-year school and later graduated from Lachin city Secondary School No.1 in 1976. He began drawing at an early age. One of his first drawings was published in the magazine “Pioner.” In 1976, he was admitted to the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute, majoring in graphic arts. In 1980, he held his first solo exhibition titled Lachin Sketches at the institute. Upon graduating in 1981, he defended his diploma work in painting.
Even as a student, he took painting seriously, producing numerous artworks and going on sketching trips. He often depicted the enchanting nature of his native Lachin, its fascinating villages, and ancient historical monuments on paper and canvas. His formation as an artist was greatly influenced by his teacher, friend, and mentor—People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, prominent master Nadir Əbdürrəhmanov. After graduation, he returned to work in Lachin district, serving as a teacher at secondary schools in the villages of Aghanus and Qarıkaha, and working as a stage artist at the Lachin city cultural house and public theater.
Since 1985, he has successfully participated in exhibitions in Azerbaijan and abroad. From 1987, he continued his artistic activities in Baku, participated in exhibitions, fulfilled commissions for the Art Fund, and worked on book design. In 1992, during the occupation of Lachin, thousands of his artworks and creative works were destroyed. Although this had a significant emotional impact on the artist, he found the strength to continue on his artistic path. Art and creativity have always been his passion and way of life.
He has consistently participated in exhibitions and various events held by the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, Baku Art Center, the Gala Art Gallery of the Baku Department of Culture, and others. Since 1997, he has been a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan. He is engaged in painting, graphics, and sculpture. His works are held in museums, galleries, and private collections in Azerbaijan and in many countries around the world.
Some of his paintings are included in a collection in Texas, USA, alongside works by world-renowned artists like Pablo Pikasso, Rufina Tamayo, and prominent representatives of American avant-garde such as Pollok, Rauşenberq, and Uorxol. His works have been featured in catalogs, books, magazines, greeting cards, calendars, and more both in Azerbaijan and abroad.
In 2000, Aztelefilm Creative Association produced a documentary titled Light about the artist's creative pursuits, which was broadcast on Azerbaijani television and received much interest. He has held several solo exhibitions and participated in creative trips both in Azerbaijan and abroad. One of his greatest artistic achievements is creating a modern and intriguing style inspired by the Gobustan rock carvings. It is no coincidence that he is referred to as “The artist who awakens Gobustan's memory.”
In 1996, he represented Azerbaijani artists at the Novruz celebrations held in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of cultural masters from Turkic-speaking countries. In 1998, during a creative trip to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, he opened a painting exhibition at the Atatürk Cultural Center and met with President Rauf Denktaş. In 2000, as an artist who admired and promoted the work of the great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, he was invited to Romania's Gorj region, Tırgu-jiu city, where he organized a solo exhibition and created artworks from nature. For his contribution to the development of Azerbaijani-Romanian cultural relations, he was awarded a special prize.
In 2013, he received awards in the graphics category in the “Bakı dünən bu gün və sabah” and “Bakının işıqları” exhibition-contests organized by Bakıelektrikşəbəkə. He has had close ties with Norway, gaining recognition and popularity there. He collaborated with the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise operating in Azerbaijan on various humanitarian projects. Among the most interesting were: a musical project with the Norwegian choir SKRUK and Azerbaijani musicians; the research and restoration of the ancient Albanian church in the village of Kiş in Şəki; and conducting art lessons at the No. 3 boarding school for sick children in Merdakan. In 2007, he made a creative trip to Norway and held solo exhibitions there.
In 1999–2000, he met with the world-famous Norwegian scholar, traveler, and researcher Tur Heyerdal during his visit to Azerbaijan. He showed his paintings to Heyerdal and gifted him several works. Tur Heyerdal was fascinated by the artist’s inspiration from ancient artistic traditions.
As an expression of his respect for the great scholar, in 2002 he dedicated a solo exhibition to Tur Heyerdal’s memory. This exhibition was organized with the support of STATOYL, NHM, and the Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan. One of the works dedicated to the scholar, Til Thor Heyrdahls Minne, was exhibited there and is now preserved in the Kon-Tiki Museum.
In 2013, his artwork “The Ancient Song of the Caspian” was used in the design of the book Thor Heyerdal for search Odin, authored by Professor Vibeke Roqgen and published with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His art is also known and appreciated in other Scandinavian countries. In Finland, his work was used in the design of the book Nyt Betlehemiin! published by Perussonoma oy, with twenty of his paintings included. The author of the book was Anne Grohn. Every year, his artworks are printed on New Year greeting cards in this country.
Greeting cards designed by the artist were also gifted to Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom.
In addition to his artistic work, he is engaged in pedagogical activity, teaching painting and sculpture in various schools. His students actively participate in national and international competitions and exhibitions, receiving awards, certificates, and diplomas.
He has undertaken creative trips to Ankara, Konya, and İstanbul in Turkey, and participated in international painting symposiums held at Selcuk and Özyegin universities.
In April 2017, the Beyond Politics modern art exhibition organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was held at the Baku Museum Center as part of the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In this exhibition, alongside world-famous Azerbaijani artists, Yusif Mirza’s painting Memory—preserved in the State Art Gallery—was also displayed. This was a clear acknowledgment of the high value placed on the artist’s work.
The liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied territories in 2020 gave the artist great creative inspiration. Yusif Mirza is currently working on paintings themed around Qarabağ and Lachin. In commemoration of the liberation of Lachin, memorial badges were created with the active participation of Azerbaijan’s diaspora in Ukraine, and Yusif Mirza was the author of the designs for these badges.
On December 1, 2021, a solo exhibition titled Dear Lachin dedicated to the first anniversary of Lachin’s liberation was opened at the Museum Center, organized by the Culture Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Culture.
In July 2023, the artist visited his liberated hometown of Lachin, where he resumed painting after 31 years. On August 26, 2023, he participated in an exhibition held in honor of Lachin City Day. He met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, expressing his gratitude as a native of Lachin.
In July and August 2024, he traveled again to the liberated territories, sketched and painted studies from nature, and continued his creative work in Lachin city. On August 26, 2024, he participated in the My Lachin exhibition dedicated to Lachin City Day with paintings and three sculpture works. After the exhibition, he donated his sculptures to the Art Gallery to be opened in Lachin city.
In 2024, two of his paintings dedicated to Shusha—Mugham, Shusha and Shusha my Fairytale City —were displayed in an exhibition held in Malaysia devoted to Azerbaijan and Qarabagh and attracted great interest.
Yusif Mirza currently resides in Baku and continues his creative activity.
