• When did you start to paint, to discover the world of plastic arts?

I began to draw before I spoke. From early childhood. It was a need that stayed with me for the rest of my life. And it made my life beautiful.

• Did you study art at the university or another art study center?

Yes. I studied art at Kuban (Russia) University. And after that, I trained for one year at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, and then 1 year in Moscow.

• What are your favorite topics and techniques when doing your work?

I am interested in different topics. But there are a few topics that I constantly look up to. These are: «Carnival World», «Shells as Space», «Eve», «Flower Formulas», «Non-Objective Reality», «Linear Color Compositions».

I have painted most of my work with oils, pastels, and watercolors. Currently, I have added: acrylic, gouache.

• What is the reason that inspires you to paint your pictures?

The reasons that inspire me to write or draw are very diverse. When I paint, it is an activity that I do with my heart, with passion. And I like to translate it into images or abstract compositions.

•  As you are from Azerbaijan and you live in Germany, do you think these countries inspire your way of painting? In what way?

Both Azerbaijan and Germany are very important and interesting countries for me. Azerbaijan is my homeland. Azerbaijan is a very beautiful country with ancient culture and traditions. Fine and decorative arts, carpets, and crafts in Azerbaijan are beautiful and always serve as a source of knowledge and discoveries. Life in Germany gave me the opportunity to study many modern trends in Art, the opportunity to see a lot and exhibit in many countries.

• Do you prefer to paint in oil, watercolors? What other elements do you use in your paintings?

In recent years I have been working with acrylics, gouache with the use of various additional materials. These are markers, liners, thin gold and silver plates.

• When did you start participating in art exhibitions? Have you exhibited your work in your country and abroad? Individually or collectively?

I started to participate in art exhibitions when I was studying at the University. And after graduation, I began to exhibit my paintings in my country and abroad.

I have had many collective, group, and personal exhibitions.

• Are your paintings in the collection of a museum or a private collection?

My paintings are in many museums and private collections around the world. Baku- (Azerbaijan) State Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art. In Moscow (Russia), Tretyakov Gallery, Museum of Eastern Cultures.

In Saratov, Museum of Arts named after Radishchev; Zhitomerskaya Picture Gallery (Ukraine); Museum named after V.I. Lembruck (Germany); Picture Gallery of Thyssen-Krupp Corporation (Germany), Picture Gallery of the company «Lucas» (Germany), Private collections in which my works are located are Holland, France, Germany, Cuba, USA (America), Spain, Japan, and in other countries.

• In which project are you working on or doing in Germany right now?

Currently, I am working on two cycles of works: «Eve» and «Non-Objective Reality». I’m getting ready for an exhibition in Cologne.

In 2020 and 2021, I participated in real and online exhibitions in Paris: 1. in UNESCO, where I received the First Prize Diploma at the competition, and 2. in the art shopping «Carousel du Louvre».

Art Venice, Art Roma, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Germany.

I teach art and have my studio. It is named «Creativity». Our classes are often held at the Museums in Cologne. We do different exhibitions of my students. On Facebook, I have a section called “I present”,  where I show the work of students.

Mag. Marisa Avogadro Thomé, journalist and writer from Mendoza, Argentina

Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova is a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan and the USSR;  member of the International Federation of Artists at UNESCO;  member of the International Art Fund of the Russian Academy of Arts; Vice President of the International Fund for Aesthetic Development; member of the International Association of Artists.

She is a full member (academician) of the World Academy of Arts «New Era» (2021) and she was laureated with the national prize «Dede Korkut» (2020).

Kerimova-Sokolova took part in exhibitions in Germany, the USA, France, Italy, Cuba, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria.  In 1994-1995, Kerimova-Sokolova lived and worked in the USA (Philadelphia, New York, Chicago), and since 1995 has been living in Cologne (Germany).

Pictures of Margarita Kerimova-Sokolova are in famous museums of the world and private collections.