The opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the "Her Art in Action" festival was held at "Gazelli Art House".
Modern.az reports that on the first day of the festival, within the framework of joint cooperation between the VarYox art and culture platform and "Gazelli Art House" Baku gallery, a group exhibition on the theme "A House Opening to a View" commenced.
The exhibition also features artworks by Leyla Aliyeva.
Leyla Aliyeva participated in the exhibition and viewed the exhibited works.
Leyla Aliyeva was informed about the festival, stating that "Her Art in Action" is an annual program established and implemented by the VarYox art and culture platform, dedicated to promoting gender equality in art, increasing cultural inclusivity, and strengthening Azerbaijan's international cultural participation. This year, the festival, covering the months of March – May, will be held over a three-month period in various venues across Baku.
It was noted that "Her Art in Action", held for three consecutive years, serves as a unique festival in the region dedicated to women's creativity and international exchange. The project actively brings together women from Azerbaijan and regional countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Georgia, Egypt, as well as the Balkan region, Spain, and Lithuania.
The theme "A House Opening to a View" considers the home not as a fixed space, but as a fluid state shaped by women's experiences. Moving beyond the confines of daily domesticity, the theme explores how women create, define, contest, and reclaim space amidst the tensions between public and private life, visibility and solitude, belonging and resistance.
Within the framework of the event, the birthday of a martyr's mother was celebrated, and Leyla Aliyeva presented her with a gift.
Also, the exhibition participants presented their handicrafts as gifts to Leyla Aliyeva.
Finally, Leyla Aliyeva also visited the memorial corner of Zarifa Hamzayeva, founder and president of "Gazelli Group".
Sitara Ibrahimbayli, curator of this year's festival edition and multimedia artist, noted at the opening of its first exhibition on March 8 that works by 27 local and foreign artists were displayed: "For the third year, we are opening the festival on March 8. There will be a total of three openings. In April, a joint exhibition created through dialogue between students of Boarding School No. 11 with Integrated Education (Bilgah) and renowned contemporary artists will be organized. The third project will be held in Icherisheher and will be an open-air photography night. In total, over 50 artists' works will be exhibited over three months".
Independent artist Kafiya Eyvazova participated in this year's festival with her work "View from the Window". "I have been participating in the festival for three years, and this is the first time I am presenting a work in carpet technique. The work is woven using the pile carpet technique and invites people to question family structure. Here, male motifs, while seemingly protecting female motifs, actually restrict them. Gradually, the woman's facial features disappear. Because restriction pushes a person's identity into the background and makes it invisible. The work advises our society to value women, listen to them, and not restrict their freedom".
The festival will conclude on May 31.
