Works and lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abel Beyene (b. 1995, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work explores the emotional and psychological dimensions of identity, memory, and migration in the context of contemporary Ethiopian society. Based in Addis Ababa, Beyene’s practice spans acrylic and oil painting, collage, mixed media, digital art, and photography.
Beyene studied at the Abyssinia Fine Arts and Vocational Training Centre and later honed his craft at the Teferi Mekonen School of Fine Arts between 2015 and 2018. Since then, he has developed a unique artistic voice rooted in observation, introspection, and cultural commentary. His studio practice is shaped by a deep sensitivity to human emotion, vulnerability, and the evolving nature of urban life in Addis Ababa.
Central to his work is a commitment to capturing fleeting expressions and fragile identities—particularly through figurative compositions rendered in rich, ambient spaces. Beyene often depicts African men adorned in vivid colors, set against textured or collaged backdrops that blend handwritten texts, found language, and urban motifs. His small-format mixed-media collages echo the rhythms of city life and carry a lyrical, poetic quality that reveals his affinity for visual storytelling.
Beyene draws conceptual inspiration from daily life, assembling impressions from his surroundings to reflect the tension between personal experience and collective identity. His work interrogates themes of history, displacement, knowledge, and transformation—posing visual questions about what it means to exist within shifting global and cultural landscapes.
His art has been featured in group exhibitions such as “Musing in Colour” and “Transformations: New Perspectives” in Nairobi, Kenya, where his work was met with critical acclaim. He will also exhibit in the upcoming international show “Art from Suitcase”, curated by Goran Tomcic, opening at Museum Lapidarium in Novigrad, Croatia in September 2025.
Praised by curators and critics for both his artistic depth and professional commitment, Abel Beyene is recognized as one of the most promising voices in East African contemporary art. Through his multilayered, emotionally resonant works, he continues to contribute meaningfully to conversations around identity, environment, and creative expression in Ethiopia and beyond.
