24/02/2026
CATALOGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
You can now access and read all our exhibition catalogs by visiting:
https://linktr.ee/esseniartgallery
The following catalogs are currently available:
1. ኣደነት (Motherhood): Through Art & Poetry — Gabrielle Tesfaye
ጥቅምት 15, 2018 E.C. (25.10.25 G.C)
Gabrielle Tesfaye’s exhibition traces the raw and intimate journey of motherhood, capturing a period of profound personal transformation. The paintings, along with their visible imperfections, reflect the artist’s present reality—“squeezing minutes from the clock as one squeezes the last drops of sweetness from their final lemon.”
Motherhood has sparked a new artistic awakening while beginning to heal emotional wounds within her spirit. These works document some of the most impactful, painful, transformative, loving, and fleeting moments of this stage of life. Through expressive painting, Gabrielle explores how motherhood expands empathy and reveals the vulnerability and transformation present in human experience.
Each piece offers a glimpse into the creation of life and its unfolding aftermath, translating personal experience into a visual language that resonates universally. The exhibition stands as both a celebration of maternal strength and a meditation on the enduring emotional and creative impact of motherhood.
2. Majestic Monuments and History (ግርማን ታሪኽን) — Solo Exhibition by Tekeste Welay
ነሓሰ 10, 2017 E.C (16.08.25 G.C)
Tekeste Welay’s exhibition explores the sacred and historical dimensions of Tigray’s mountainous landscapes. Through printmaking, painting, and mixed media, he transforms geological formations into visual narratives of cultural memory, presenting them as natural fortresses and repositories of spiritual heritage.
Blending traditional motifs with contemporary techniques, the works reveal mountains as both ecological treasures and enduring symbols of resilience. Each piece invites viewers to engage with the layered histories embedded within the land, reflecting on the relationship between human experience and natural formations.
Tekeste’s practice meditates on permanence and change, capturing the strength, mystery, and spiritual resonance of Tigray’s landscapes. The exhibition offers an immersive experience that demonstrates how art can honor heritage, convey cultural identity, and transform familiar environments into profound visual stories.
3. Faces of Tigray
ሚያዝያ 18, 2017 E.C. (26.04.25 G.C.)
Faces of Tigray is an art project that pairs children living in IDP camps with local artists in Mekelle to create powerful portraits reflecting their stories, dreams, and resilience.
Through collaborative art sessions, children and artists connect, paint together, and learn from one another—fostering creativity, healing, and hope. Each participating artist presents a final portrait alongside a written story and the child’s personal aspirations, capturing their spirit and strength.
The artworks are exhibited and sold at Esseni Art Gallery, with proceeds directly supporting the children’s families and sustaining future community programs.
4. ፅሞና (Silence) — Art Exhibition by Brhanemeskel Grmay
ሰነ 8, 2016 E.C (15.06.24 G.C.)
ፅሞና (Silence) explores introspection, emotional stillness, and the unspoken dimensions of human experience. Through a contemplative visual language, Brhanemeskel Grmay invites viewers into moments of quiet reflection, where absence, memory, and presence coexist. The exhibition examines silence not as emptiness, but as a space for meaning, healing, and inner dialogue.
5. ማህደር (Mahder) — Art Exhibition by Angesom Gebrehawerya and Misgna Reda
ነሓሰ 25, 2016 E.C. (31.08.24 G.C.)
A duo exhibition showcasing the works of two recently graduated students from Tigray Art Academy, highlighting a diverse range of artistic practices and skills.
