Contemporary Women Artists in Ethiopia

Abstract

Makda Teklemichael T h his research note explores the lives and work of six contemporary women artists in Ethiopia, both those who paint within the artistic traditions of the Ethi opian Orthodox Church and those who were edu cated in an academic, fine art tradition and whose work sells in art galleries in Addis Ababa and abroad. What these women share is the strength necessary to become artists and the challenges imposed by a competitive, male-domi nated market. Their success in this market is affected by their educational and social backgrounds, both of which impact their ability to work and their access to materials and custom ers. In this note, I briefly examine the historical roles of women as patrons and as subjects of Ethiopian art before addressing the roles of cultural and traditional institutions in shaping the Ethiopian art market. I also examine the strategies female artists employ to make art that fulfills their creative vision while also providing a means of subsistence. Finally, I explore how they balance their aesthetic and economic concerns.