Endale Desalegn

Endale Desalegn, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a prominent artist who continues to reside and work in his native city, creating paintings noted for their rich symbolism and experimental approach. His artwork is recognized for its expressive application of acrylic and oil paint, often utilizing a predominantly monochrome palette with selective use of colour. Endale holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in painting from the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design in Addis Ababa (2008). He has participated in residencies in Lisbon, Portugal (2011, 2016), and has presented solo exhibitions in Ethiopia, South Africa, Portugal, and the United States, as well as being featured in various group exhibitions. Additionally, Endale has lectured at Addis Ababa University’s School of Architecture and the Teaching College in Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Endale Desalegn was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he continues to live and produce richly symbolic, experimental paintings. Endale’s work is distinguished by his strikingly expressive use of acrylic and oil paint and his characteristically monochrome palette with sparing use of colour. Endale has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in painting, from Alle School of Fine Arts and Design in Addis Ababa (2008). He has done residencies in Lisbon, Portugal (2011, 2016) and has had solo exhibitions in Ethiopia, South Africa, Portugal, and the United States in addition to various group shows. Endale has also lectured at Addis Ababa University’s School of Architecture and the Teaching College in Hawassa, Ethiopia. In 2014, Endale Desalegn visited Johannesburg, where he had his first residency with David Krut Projects (DKP), followed by a solo exhibition, titled A Single Vibration, at the David Krut Projects gallery at Arts on Main. The exhibition featured works that the artist made in Ethiopia in addition to new paintings that he had made while in residence. The show explored concepts of light and darkness, both in terms of unpredictable access to electricity in his hometown as well as relating to wider themes on what it means to be an African today. In 2015, he returned to DKP for a second residency, which was followed by another solo show, Two Social Pacifiers, in which Endale meditated on two economic and social systems – communism and capitalism – in relation to Ethiopia’s communist history and capitalist present. During his residency programmes, Endale had access to a printing press for the first time, through which he collaborated with South African artist Senzo Shabangu and Zimbabwean artis Tendai Mupita. He also worked closely with David Krut Workshop (DKW) printer Kim-Lee Loggenberg-Tim to produce a series of monotypes. In 2016, a self-titled solo exhibition of Endale’s work was presented at the David Krut Projects gallery in New York.