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Yakov KeilichisSoviet sculptor
Date of Birth: 11.05.1872
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Artistic Beginnings
- Recognition in St. Petersburg and Florence
- Artistic Career
- Relocation to Baku and Local Impact
- Azerbaijani Thematic Sculptures
- Contributions to Azerbaijani Art
- Transformation of the Sculpture School
- Early Monumental Sculptures
- Artistic Highlights
- Posthumous Mask of Jafar Jabbarly
- Later Years and Legacy
- Recognition and Honors
- Death and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Early Childhood and FamilyYakob Keilikhis was born in 1872 in the town of Balta, to a wealthy Jewish merchant family. His father, Joseph Keilikhis, moved the family to Odessa to expand his business.
Artistic Beginnings
With his father's blessing, Keilikhis enrolled in the Odessa Drawing School and later the Odessa Art School, where he studied under professor Luigi Yorini of Florence. There, his talent in sculpture became evident.
Recognition in St. Petersburg and Florence
For his bust of Emperor Caracalla, Keilikhis received a bronze medal at an Odessa exhibition. He then entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg and was sent to the Florentine Academy of Arts in Italy for further training.
Artistic Career
Early Influences and WorksAfter completing his apprenticeship in Florence, Keilikhis created his first major work, "Boy with a Crab," which was exhibited in Florence in 1897.
Relocation to Baku and Local Impact
Keilikhis moved to Baku in 1908 and established the first sculpture school in Azerbaijan, where he taught modeling, stone carving, and drawing.
Azerbaijani Thematic Sculptures
Keilikhis dedicated several works to Azerbaijani themes, including bas-reliefs depicting "Ambal," a local market vendor, and "Baku Gavroche," a young boy from the streets. He also created portrait reliefs of cultural figures Mahbubbeyov and Ganizadeh.
Contributions to Azerbaijani Art
Establishment of the Baku Art SocietyIn 1912, Keilikhis co-founded the Baku Art Society, which played a significant role in promoting the development of the arts in pre-revolutionary Azerbaijan.
Transformation of the Sculpture School
Keilikhis's sculpture school was transformed into the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute in 1920, where he taught for nearly 30 years and became the head of the sculpture department.
Early Monumental Sculptures
In 1920, Keilikhis created a bust of Karl Marx for the seaside promenade (later renamed the National Park). This work and others by visiting sculptors from Moscow are no longer extant.
Artistic Highlights
Monument to Mirza Alekber SabirFor the 1st Congress of the Peoples of the East in Baku in 1922, Keilikhis created a sculptural monument to Azerbaijani poet Mirza Alekber Sabir, which became the first monumental sculpture of a human figure in the Muslim East.
Posthumous Mask of Jafar Jabbarly
In 1934, Keilikhis made a posthumous mask of Azerbaijani poet Jafar Jabbarly.
Later Years and Legacy
After the death of his wife in 1939, Keilikhis retired from active artistic work and focused on teaching. He advocated for the architectural style known as "Bauhaus."
Recognition and Honors
In 1949, Keilikhis was recognized as a Merited Art Worker of the Azerbaijan SSR for his significant contributions.
Death and Legacy
Yakob Keilikhis passed away in Baku in 1950. His legacy lives on through the generations of Azerbaijani artists he mentored, including renowned sculptor Ibrahim Kuliev, whom he affectionately called "Radik."
