Gunel Hasanova was born in 1984 in Baku city. Despite graduating from the Faculty of Applied Mathematics at Baku State University, she has always shown a deep interest in art and national values.

For over 12 years, Ms. Gunel has been engaged in handicrafts, and she explains the main source of her interest in this field as follows: “Although my mother was a housewife, she had remarkable manual skills. She created various handicrafts, and I watched her with admiration. I believe my love for art stems from this.”

Showing a special enthusiasm for national ornaments, history, and objects reflecting our culture, Gunel Hasanova began her artistic journey by sewing dolls in a national style for her daughter. After noticing that those around her appreciated and showed interest in her handicrafts, she decided to further develop this field.

Ms. Gunel brings to life beloved characters from Azerbaijani folk tales—such as “Jirtdan,” “Tiq-Tiq Khanim,” and “Goychak Fatma”—in her handicrafts. These characters hold a special place in her doll collection, each gaining a unique character thanks to the distinctive details she adds. In addition to dolls in national styles and folk tale characters, Ms. Gunel has set a goal to create dolls representing ancient folk heroes and those dressed in the national costumes of various countries.

It should be noted that Gunel Hasanova’s captivating handmade works can be obtained at “ABAD” ethno-boutiques.