Ethiopia's Visual Arts
Professional Network

I am a passionate and versatile artist with experience in teaching, therapy, and design. I have taught painting, drawing, and soon courses at Jimma University, achieving a high satisfaction rating. I have also supervised and mentored students’ projects and research on various art topics and themes. I have conducted art therapy sessions for clients with diverse mental health needs, using various art media and techniques to facilitate self-expression and healing. I have collaborated with other mental health professionals and referred clients to appropriate services. I have created and sold original works of art in various styles and formats, such as abstract, realistic, digital, and mixed media. I have donated artworks to hospitals and mental health care centers to support their missions and programs. I have also commissioned artwork for clients based on their specifications and preferences. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Addis Ababa University Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, where I graduated with honors and distinction. I was awarded the Best Student Prize for outstanding academic and artistic achievement. I have participated in several exhibitions and competitions and won several awards. I have mastered drawing and painting skills, as well as explored alternative media and techniques, such as collage, mixed media, digital painting, and installation. I have executed mural projects that reflected social, cultural, and environmental issues. I have demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through artistic research and presentation. I am eager to apply my artistic talents and passion to a new challenge.

Eyayu Genet is an Ethiopian visual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally across Italy, Sweden, Germany, and the United States, as well as in Ethiopia. He represented Ethiopia and Africa at the Santa Maria di Sala Art Biennale of Fine Arts in Venice, Italy, where three of his works were acquired by the City of Fiesso D’Artico and permanently displayed at City Hall. He was also ranked 7th among 86 participating artists by art professionals. His international engagements include a live art show and public lecture at the Barrick Museum and Grant Hall Art Academy Gallery at UNLV, and a group exhibition at Kalmar Museum, Sweden. He has received awards from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia and the Tana Award. His works are held in collections including the National Museum of Ethiopia, World Bank Headquarters, German Embassy, National Palace, Prime Minister’s Office, Kelowna General Hospital, and other important institutions. He has also contributed to international book and mosaic projects.

Artist Mehari Teshome was born in the half of 1980’s in the Land of Human Origin and a Symbol for African Colonial Resistance (Liberation)-Ethiopia. He was raised in the capital city - Addis Ababa, where the country’s or East African Huge Open Air Market is locatedMerkato. This opportunity leaves him to have access and observe societies all over the country with all their diverse manifestations, values and the place of him with in it. Supported with his basic knowledge and skill in Art, The SelfTaught Artist has gone through assessing and extracting human interaction with nature, the fate of society in the Digital Era and the values of Women in Life. That is why the Artist wants to depict and reveal how society is structuring and operating itself with in the version of 21 century.

**Naizgi Tewelde Kidane – Brief Profile** Naizgi Tewelde Kidane is an Ethiopian visual artist, curator, cultural entrepreneur, and arts administrator with more than two decades of experience in the visual arts sector. As the Founder and Managing Director of **YESEFERSEW Fine Art Network Platform**, he is committed to strengthening Ethiopia's creative ecosystem through digital innovation, publishing, exhibitions, research, and professional development. Working across painting, drawing, mixed media, and curatorial practice, his artistic work explores themes of cultural identity, social transformation, urban life, labor, and historical values. His projects have included museum exhibitions, public art initiatives, artist documentation, and cultural heritage programs. Naizgi is also the founder of the **Addis Adwa African International Art Biennial**, an initiative that seeks to position Addis Ababa as a leading center for contemporary African art while fostering international cultural dialogue and creative collaboration. Through his leadership, he continues to advocate for sustainable opportunities for artists and the preservation and global promotion of Ethiopia's rich visual arts heritage.