A Chronology of 20th Century Ethiopian Art

1990Eshetu Tiruneh's first solo exhibition is held at the Addis Ababa City Hall gallery.
 
1990Ezedin Mohammed translates Lust for life, the story of the tragic but inspiring life of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh in to Amharic. The book is best-seller.
 
1990Tadesse Mesfin paints FAREWELL.
 
1990Mezgebu Tessema paints the triptych WE. The central panel, carefully composed represents a typical family; the left and right panels represent the contented woman and the nonchalant man of the house.
 
1990Girma Bulti's first solo exhibition is held at Goethe Institute, Addis Ababa.
 
1991The Addis International group is formed. The group's first exhibit is held the same year.
 
1991Daniel Touafe paints yet another version of YARED.
 
1991The Ministry of Culture and Sports Affairs, and Addis Ababa University with the collaboration of the Ethiopian Artists Association, organize ETHIOPIA IN FINE ARTS, a show on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Victory Day and the 11th International Conference on Ethiopian Studies.
 
1991Tadesse Mesfin's first solo exhibition is held at the Addis Ababa City Hall gallery.
 
1992Tadesse Belaineh becomes director of the Addis Ababa Fine Arts School
 
1992St. George Furniture and Art Gallery opens in Addis Ababa, run by Saba Alene.
 
1992Zerihun Yetmgeta is awarded the Prix de la Biennale at DAK'ART 92, Senegal.
 
1992Friendship Of Women Artists, FOWA, the first of its kind in the country is formed by Emebet Awoke, Emebet Belete, Fanaye Tesfaye, Kelemua Hailu, Ketsela Mengistu, Mahelet Aberham, Mahlet Worku, Mihret Dawit, Naomie Tesfaye, Selamawit Aboneh, Senafkish Zeleke,and Sofia Asefa.
 
1992Gebrelu G. Mariam's first solo exhibition is held at the Pushkin Russian Cultural Institute, Addis Ababa. The paintings are on canvas, animal skin and wood.
 
1993After several successful exhibitions in Europe, Africa, North and South America, Kenfe Mickael Bethe Selassie's first solo exhibition of Papier-Mache Sculptures and relief opens at the Addis Ababa Museum. His works reflect tension between lyrical and drastic distortions of form and color that express inner qualities and childlike imagery.
 
1993Mezgebu Tessema's first solo exhibition is held at the National Museum, Addis Ababa. His detailed drawings and clean colors - naturalistic light and theme give him a special place in the hearts of Addis Ababans. He becomes popular with his students, patrons, and the general public.
 
1993The Point Group is formed. The group includes, Addisu Worku, Ayele Assefa, Gebrielu G. Mariam, Leul S. Mariam, Mesfin H. Mariam, Samuel Sharew, and Tesfu W. Selassie.
 
1994The Dimension Group is formed. The group includes, Behailu Bezabih, Bekele Mekonnen, Eshetu Tiruneh, Geta Mekonnen, Kidane Belay, Mezgebu Tessema, Mulugeta Tafesse, Muzie Awel, and Tadesse Mesfin.
 
1994Daniel Taye's first solo exhibition is held at the National Museum, Addis Ababa.
 
1994ADDIS ART WEEK is lunched by Assefa Gosaye and Geta Mekonnen. It runs from May 9th to May 15th and its main objective is to inspire new artists and introduce the arts to the public.
 
1995Hailu Tsigie's first solo exhibition is held at the Alliance Ethio-Française, Addis Ababa. His fluid and airy works are different from the mainstream of the Addis Ababa art movement.
 
1995Dimension Group has a show at the Alliance Ethio-Française, Addis Ababa. The group outlines its philosophy regarding art in general, and African and Ethiopian art in particular. It describes itself as "" an eclectic group which may symbolize a new Ethiopian Society, open to external influences."" No specific art philosophy or direction follow.
 
1996A Fine arts department is added at the newly opened College in Mekelle. Instructors are former students of The Addis Ababa Fine Arts School. Getu Shiferaw is head of the department.
 
1996Dimension Group exhibit the works of the late Gebre Kristos Desta at the Alliance Ethio-Française. Sculptor/painter/poet Bekele Mekonnen, a founding member of the group, reads his sarcastic poetry on the closing night.
 
1996Lema Guya opens African Arts Museum and Training Center in his home town, Debre Zeit. The Nigerian government partially covers the coast of the museum.
 
1996Worku & Barbara Goshu open Goshu Art Gallery in Woreda 17 K-17 , near the Urael church in Addis Ababa.
 
1997Bekele Abebe and Getachew Yossef finish a commissioned work of a larger-than-life bronze statue of leading TPLF member HAYLOM. It is now erected at Mekelle.
 
1997Asni Art Gallery/ Veranda opens in Addis Ababa, run by Konjit Seyoum. It becomes a very important arena for artists, intellectuals, and art lovers.
 
1997Daniel Taye paints THE IDIOT, acclaim for its evocative and symbolic power.
 
1997The Double Blue group is formed. The group includes, Birtukan Dejene, Biru Worku, Endalkachew Girma, Eneyew Tsegaye, Melkamu Dessie, Sara Tesfaye, Seble Tadesse, Teferi Mekonnen and Yoseph Abate.
 
1998Getachew Yossef's first solo exhibition is held at the Alliance Ethio-Française, Addis Ababa. His series of paintings entitled UNDER THE SUN receives critical acclaim.
 
1998The long-awaited women artists group exhibition opens at the German cultural center in Addis Ababa. The group introduces itself with its September 1997 publication FOWA Friendship of Women Artists and its motto ""We are more than one."" Emebet Belete, the president of the group, writes that their main objective is to promote the participation of women in the Fine Arts in Ethiopia.
 
1998Bekele Mekonnen's first solo exhibition is held at Asni Art Gallery/Veranda. A kind of interactive show and the first of its kind, during which he demonstrates for the public the technique of sculpture and drawing.
 
1998Tadesse Mesfin and Bekele Mekonnen, two famous artists instructors at the Addis Ababa Fine Arts School, win prestigious U.S. Fellowships. Both are M.F.A. holders from the former Soviet Union Fine Arts Academy. Tadesse wins the Mid-America Arts Alliance Fellowship (MAAA) and Bekele is selected for a Chicago Artists International Program Award (CAIP). This is the first time an Ethiopian has ever been selected for either award.
 
1998The Double Blue group exhibition opens at Goshu gallery, Addis Ababa.
 
1998The Office of the Prime Minister decides that the Addis Ababa Fine Arts School and the Yared Music School are part of the Addis Ababa University.
 
1998Addisu Worku's first solo exhibition is held at the Alliance Ethio-Francasie, Addis Ababa.
 
1999Tadesse Mesfin receives the government's award for the visual arts.
 
1999Getachew Yossef becomes head of the Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts.
 
1999An art exhibition entitled FASIKA CRUCIFIXION IN ART: CHANGING ETHIOPIAN PERSPECTIVES opens at ASNI Gallery. The exhibition features the works of 14 prominent artists including Maitre Artist Afewerk Tekle.