Omer Kaleshi was born in 1932 in Kercova, Macedonia. He is one of the world famous Albanian painters. Kaleshi was formed as a painter in Istanbul. Characteristic of his epic paintings, which have been liked wherever his exhibitions, are the heads of the rural persons of his homeland. His painting has a lot from the great Albanian world, from its dramas and tragedies, from the Albanian epic and lyrics.
Omer Kaleshi has opened exhibitions, which have been very well received by visitors and cultural-artistic circles in many world-famous galleries, such as Istanbul, Roma, Vienna, London, Belgrade or The Hague.
In 1956 he moved and settled in Paris, where he continued his successful creativity. In 2015 Ismail Kadare published the book "Art as a sin" on Kaleshi paintings.
On May 18, 2018, this great painter visited the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters in Tirana. Here he was received by the World Leader, Haxhi Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj and visited the Religious-Cultural Center, inaugurated on September 7, 2015. At the end of this visit he expressed the highest consideration not only for the Holy See and its contribution to religious harmony in Albania and in the world, but also for keeping Bektashism alive, through numerous activities inside and outside the country. He praised the contribution of the World Leader, Haxhi Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj for the establishment of the Religious and Cultural Center, which includes the Shrine, the Museum of Bektashism, the Archive of Bektashism, the Library and the Phonotheque / Photo Library whom he has met several times.
A painting by Omer Kaleshi "Dervishi" is preserved in the archives of the Bektashi museum.
The visit of this great personality, of Albanian and world painting, constitutes a very important event for the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters.
