Nazim Hajiyev is an Azerbaijani painter, art director, production designer, and muralist.
Born in Azerbaijan, he is a visionary scenographer and visual artist whose career spans more than four decades.
In his early years, Mr. Hajiyev studied scenic art and painting in Azerbaijan, developing a strong interest in the visual arts from a young age. He continued his artistic career at the Azerbaijan State Cinema Studio, where he worked as a chief artist on various film productions. In 1988, he served as chief artist for the film Naughty, shot in Baku, which was later ranked among the world’s top 35 films. In 1991, he was awarded the Azerbaijan State Prize.
With a solid foundation in fine art and a deep passion for visual storytelling, Mr. Hajiyev has helped define the look and atmosphere of numerous award-winning films and international productions. His practice brings together cinema, painting, and spatial design, positioning him as a uniquely influential creative force across both screen and built environments. Among his major achievements are 11 film productions as art director, including the Emmy-nominated miniseries Arabian Nights (2000).
As an artist, Nazim Hajiyev introduces Esotericism, a visionary art movement that merges religious symbolism, mystical philosophy, and abstract form.
First realized in his 1997 oil paintings, Mr. Hajiyev’s work transforms spiritual and philosophical ideas into layered visual narratives that invite reflection, interpretation, and exploration.
MICHAEL JAMPOLSKI
Jury Member, Visual Art Competition
Michael Jampolski was born in Baku in 1973 and now lives and works in Nuremberg, Germany. From an early age, he was engaged in academic illustration, architecture, and painting, completing several projects for university. At the age of thirteen, he received his first commissions for ink drawings and created his first oil paintings.
After graduating from university, Jampolski moved to Moscow, where he studied under local painters — masters of the art movement known as the “Severe Style.” While in Moscow, he took part in various artistic projects, fulfilled numerous private commissions, and developed designs for jewelry. Later, he returned to his homeland, Azerbaijan, where he continued his creative work and produced a series of oil paintings.
In 2003, Jampolski moved to Germany, where he continued to work intensively, creating series of graphic works, photographs, and, most importantly, oil paintings. Through this extensive work, he began to shape his own artistic concept. His participation in numerous cultural projects has made him a recognized figure in the German art scene. Jampolski’s works have been exhibited in many art shows, galleries, and cultural centers across Germany and Italy, as well as in exhibitions in Monaco, Hamburg, and Milan.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tatiana Khmilinina earned her MFA in Environmental Design from the Academy of Art and Design; had participated in projects covering St. Petersburg’s historical center while working for St. Petersburg Institute of Design.
In 1991 she moved to Los Angeles, earned a certificate in multimedia design at UCLA and worked with many talented people, including Susan Summers. In 2007 she was hired by Farmers Insurance and is still working for this organization, where she has explored many different roles – as a web designer, visual/creative designer, UX designer. Tatiana’s art have been exhibited in various art shows in US, including 2004 Russian-American Art Exhibition II – Unity in Diversity, as well as in Russia and Hungary.
Tatiana was recognized by Congress of the United States and House of Representatives for her participation in 2nd Annual W Art Exhibition in 2011.
