About the Artist: Aziz Tokhi

Mr. Tokhi was born in 1968 in Paghman District, Kabul Province in Afghanistan. At age 19, he enrolled in the Department of Agriculture at Kabul University. After one year, he transferred to the Department of Fine Arts at Kabul University due to his passion and interest in fine arts. After five years, he completed his bachelor’s degree in the field of fine arts.

He continued his artistic work while employed for two years at the Ministry of Culture. His artistic achievements included numerous exhibitions in various galleries throughout Afghanistan. In Balkh Province, he worked as a professor in the Department of Fine Arts at Balkh University and oversaw a gallery called Ancient Balkh, while also teaching and continuing his artistic work.

Due to war conditions in Afghanistan, however, he was forced to leave his homeland and move to Pakistan. He continued his painting activities there where his artworks were well received by the public. He held several independent exhibitions, including some in 1992 at Hunarkada and Gandhara Art Galleries.

He also participated in exhibitions in other countries, including three in India: the Mumbai Festival in 2014, an exhibition in New Delhi in 2009, and another festival in New Delhi in 2017. He participated in the Ankara Festival in Turkey, as well as several joint exhibitions with painters in Sacramento, California.

Aziz moved to Sacramento in 2019, where he continues working on his artistic activities to the present day, including teaching art classes (such as watercolor) here at UUSS, and has had many exhibitions with Sacramento professional artists. He has received many awards from exhibitions throughout his career, and he is the first to receive a framing award from the UUSS Art Exhibits Committee that has provided framing for 75% of his pieces displayed in this exhibition.