Talat Agalar oglI Shikhaliyev (1928 – 1987) a preeminent Azerbaijani painter was born in Masalli district of Azerbaijan Republic. After graduating un 1960 from the State Institute of Arts, Kiev, Ukraine he returned to Baku and in 1964 become a member of Artist Union of USSR. He is participant in numerous local, state and international exhibitions. His first solo show was held at the Gallery of the Artist Union of Azerbaijan in 1976. In 1980 he had his solo show in Moscow at the Central House of Artist exhibition complex on “Krimskiy Val” . His solo shows in 1993 and 2008, were held at the gallery of the Artists Union of Azerbaijan and in 2014 at the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan. His works are part of public in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany and Russia including National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, State Tretyakov Gallery Moscow Russia and private collections worldwide.
Talat’s exceptional feel for color and mastery of form result in body of work that combines powerful formal language with deep psychological exploration of human nature. His images are appealing to our empathy, our feeling of solidarity with fellow man and calling for examination of our own humanity.