About & Press

Artist’s bio
Individual shows
Group shows
Press

Artist’s bio

1976-80 followed the Fine Arts School of Addis Ababa (et)
1980-82 taught at the Fine Arts School of Addis Ababa (School of Arts and Design, AAU), (et)
1982-89 followed Higher Institute of Fine Arts, N. Pavlovitch Academy, M.A, Sofia (bg)
1992-95 followed N/HISK Higher Institute for Fine Arts, post-grad, M.A, Antwerp (be)
1992-95 lecturer, Fine Arts School, Addis Ababa (et)
1992-95 presented readings at the Ethio-Alliance Française, Addis Ababa (et)
1995-96 led / participated in workshop, ULL-off studios, Tenerife (es)
1997-98 guest lecturer, Higher Institute for Fine Arts, Antwerp (be)
1999 led workshops and lectured, School of Fine Arts (AAU), Addis Ababa (et)
2001 guest lecturer, Hasselt Visual Arts Academy; Hasselt (be)
2002 read, ‘African Photography, Masquerade: the Photo Salons of African Popular Photography’, Maastricht Visual Arts Academy, ESHPh symposium, Maastricht (nl)
2002 presented, ‘African Photography, Masquerade: the Photo Saloons of African Popular Photography’, Goethe Cultural Institute, Addis Ababa (et)
2002 read ‘African Modern/Contemporary Art’, Alliance Française, Addis (et)
2004 presented,’Courteous Confines, African Contemporary Photography: the pull between ornament and figure’, Moderna Museet, ESHPh Symposium, Stockholm (se)
2004 exhibition organiser, Elzenveld Centre, Antwerp (be)
2009-2010 employed in office job by Levanto, Antwerp (be)
2012 ‘Fast Rewind’, read to art collective, Netsa Art Village, Addis Ababa (et)
2012 Open air, (face 2 face, Addis-BOZAR), Lela Art Gallery, Addis (et)
2012 PhD. (Cum-Laude), La Laguna University, La Laguna, Tenerife; theme, “Headways in the Art of Mimesis: Inquiry into the Contemporary Visual Arts Repertoire of East Africa”, La Laguna Tenerife (es)
1996-2014 Visiting lecturer, Alle School of Art and Design, AAU-Addis (et)
2014 Residencias Artistica por Intercambio y proyecto TRUEQUE, R.A.T., (mx)
2016 Video talk “Imagine Europe: In Search of New Narratives”, BOZAR (be)
2016 Intro, Ethiopian Cinema, ‘Dfret’, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle (be)
2017 Volunteer at children edu: 2012-17 Kunst Fabriek/Das Kunst, Ghent (be)
2017-25 volunteering/ public assistance part time work, SMAK, Gent (be)
2018 Panelist, Mekelle University, ICES20: 20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Mekelle (et)
2020 Drawing project, Plantijn elementary and junior high School, ‘Parkoers at the halls with 21 International artists, partially realised, Borgerhout, Antwerp, Mark Scheppers (Curator) (be)
2020 Artist in Residence, Frans Masereel Centrum; NICC and Ecole Mondiale project, Kasterlee (be)
2021 Advisory session, M_HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp-webinar) (be)
2021 Participation on artists’ future prospects, Kunstenpunt, Brussels (be)
2023 Lecture, Poly Technic sch, Teferi Mekonnen Fine Arts College, Addis (et)
2023 Lectured, Modern Art Museum-Gebre Kristos Desta Center, Addis Ababa (et)
2024 Presented paper, Modern/Contemporary (African) Art, SOAS-AFALA-2024 Conference, UNISA, Pretoria (SA)

Individual shows

1980 Alliance Française, (with Yonas Kenea, Mezgebu Tessema), Addis Ababa (et)
1982 City Hall Gallery, the Municipality of Addis Ababa (et)
1989 Gallery Sredets’, Ministry of Culture exhibition hall, Sofia (bg)
1994 ‘Piquant Anecdotes’, Gallery Tragt, St.Niklaas (be)
1994 ‘Stolen Light’ Beelden Gallery, Antwerpen (Catalog), (be)
1994 VUB Gallery, (Vrij Universiteit Brussels), Brussels (be)
1996 ‘Open Hands’, St. Bernardus Cultural Center, Antwerpen (be)
1997 Ethio-Alliance Française, Addis Ababa (et)
1999 Ethio-Alliance Française, Addis Ababa (et)
2001 ‘Nestlers’, De Branderij, Antwerp (et)
2002 Gallery Art and Advice, Gallery, Hasselt (et)
2003 ‘Back Bencher’, Alliance Ethio-Française, Addis Ababa (et)
2005 Gallery Anka Humma, Brussels (be)
2005 ‘Melting’ St.Joris Pand, Antwerp (be)
2006 Gallery 23, (intro-Felix de Rooy, with performative dance by Frank Händler, and Diana Elshout), Amsterdam (nl)
2006 Leoplodburg Cultural Centre, Leopoldburg (be)
2007 Delen Bank, Antwerp (be)
2008 Domelhoff Cultural Center, Neerpelt (be)
2010 “X Factor”, Laphto Centre, Addis Ababa (et)
2010 Zuiderpershuis, (Worku and Barbara Goshu), Antwerp (be)
2011 ’Beyond Axum’, Bekris Gallery, San Francisco, (Etiye Dima Poulsen,) (us)
2012 ’When Words Fail’ Bekris Gallery,49 Geary Street,Suite 235, San Francisco(us)
2012 Amandla, City Library (10 African and Belgian artists) Antwerp (be)
2012 ’Terra firma’, Ruimte Morguen, (with Ermias Kifleyesus), Antwerp (be)
2012 Gallery 24, (with Etiye Dimma Poulsen), Amsterdam (nl)
2014 Alliance Ethio-Française, Addis Ababa (et)
2014 Alliance Ethio-Française, Dire Dawa (et)
2014 ’Start to Jazz’, Kunstenplatform WARP, Sint Niklaas (be)
2016 ’BAD’, Belgium Art and Design, solo booth, Eskimo Fabriek, Gent (be)
2016 ’Inside Track’ Lela Art Gallery, Addis Ababa (et)
2016 ‘Wereldfeest Ondersteboven’, Domelhoff Cultural Center, Neerpelt (be)
2018 ‘Polémica Personal’,Agencia de Tránsitos Culturales,Santa Cruz de Tenerife (es)
2018 ‘Frivolous Marks’, Lela Art Gallery, Addis Ababa (et)
2023 ‘The Spectrum: A Solo Show by Mulugeta Tafesse’, Metropolitan Art Gallery, (Curator, Mifta Zeleke) Addis Ababa (et)
2023 ‘Mr.Kiss: A Solo Show by Mulugeta Tafesse’, Modern Art Museum – Gebre Kristos Desta Center, (Curator, Mifta Zeleke) Addis Ababa (et)

Group shows

1989 ‘Small Format show’, the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sliven (bg), (catalog)
1989 ‘Int/l Plein Air, Young Artists’ show’, Shirokaleka-Smolian (bg), (catalog)
1995 ‘De Sokkel Van David Teniers’, Elzenfield Cultural Centre, Antwerp (be)
1996 ‘AEthiopia: People, Culture, Art’, African Museum Tervuren, (be), (catalog)
1997 ‘African Wind’, De Vierkante Zaal, (Toma Luntumbue, Aimé Ntakiyicka,…), (curator, Jacques Neuve) (be)
1999 ‘Faith, Hope, and Love’ 2nd Millennium De Warande, Marie-Jo Lafontaine, Ricardo Brey, Zhou Shanglie, and Mulugeta Tafesse, (Stef Van Bellingen, curator) (catalog) Turnhout (be)
1999 ‘Print as Fiction’, (Guillaume Bijl, Ronny De Meyer, Bernd Lohaus, Martin Maloney, Werner Mannaers, Ulrich Meister, Luc Tuymans, Philippe Vandenberg, Henk Visch) (be), Gallery Roger Van Daele (limited edition, catalog), Antwerp (be)
2001 ‘Dessins Choisir’ Addis-Paris, with int’l artists (catalog) (curator, ), (fr)
2001 ‘Nestled Time’, De Branderij, (curator, Martin Uit Den Bogaard), Antwerp (be)
2001 ‘Jour fixe’ Dialogist-Kantor, Walter Swennen; ‘Ethiopië-rapport’, Lieve Lambrecht en Chris Straetling, Ria Paquee, Tewodros Hagos, Nebiat Abebe, Dimension Group (…) Factor 44, Antwerp (be)
2002 Dakar Biennale, (catalog), Dakar (sn)
2003 ’23 sins’ Artists book’ Triennale, Vilinus (catalog), (lt)
2003 Arte Coppo, with A. Peron, Vervier (be)
2003 ‘Yemechereshaw Qeeld, Text performance; with Guy Rombouts, Mirabelle Wouters, Daisy Wouters, Arjen Nelis, Harry Heirmans, Chris Straetling, Factor 44, Antwerp (be)
2004 ‘Lime Light, Painter’s epi-c-tome: Unprepared Grounds’, Book presentation, Stef van Bellingen (introduction); Video, Chris Straetling; Factor 44, Antwerp (be)
2004 ‘Montigny-Dakart’, Montigny Charlerois (be)
2004 ‘Eclipse, Bornem/Puurs/Willebroek CC, (Stef Van Bellingen, Curator), (catalog)(be)
2005 Ethiopia Events, Mikael Bethe-Selassie, Tewodros Tsige, …, Lyonne (fr)
2005 Amandla, Permeke Library (African and Belgian artists), Antwerp (be)
2006 Amandla, Permeke Library (20 African and Belgian artists) Antwerp (be)
2008 ‘Ecouter et Entendre’, Hassan Musa, Otobong Nkanga, Aimé Ntakiyicka, Pélagie Gbaguidi, …, Dunja Hersac (Curator), Gallery Kevin Conru, Grand Sablon, Brussels (catalog), Brussel (be)
2008 ‘Art reflecting the world’, Clingendael,Institute of Int’l Relations,Antonio Claudio Carvahlo, Joseph Beuys, Ronny Delrue,Hadasah Emmerisch, Mulugeta Tafesse, …, (Stef Van Bellingen, Curator), The Hague(nl)
2009 with Amandla, Permeke Library (venue, African and Belgian artists on the II Millenium), assisted by Mulugeta Tafesse, Antwerp (be)
2009 East African Biennial, a project on (unmasking) les Demoiselles des Avignon, Ricardo Brey, Pierre Mertens, Willo Gonnissen, (Yves Goscinny. curator) (Catalogue), Dar Es Salam (tz)
2009 ‘Sport: Fait(es) Divers’, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sim cha Chi, Axel, Harold E.Edgerton, Hans Peter Feldmann, Jef Geys, Guy Mees, Edward Muybridge, Hans Op de Beeck, August Sander, Walter Swennen, Henk Visch, Phil Wauters (…) Mechelen, (Marc Scheppers, Curator), Mechelen (be)
2010 BOLERO, an international art project on the move, Addis Ababa, Laphto Centre – Leo Kosm (curator) (Et); Dar Es Salam, Alliance Française (Tz); Karoo Gallery, Prince Albert (SA); Zero Station, a house for creativity, (Nguyen Nhu Huy, curator), Ho chi Minh City (ve)
2010 Amandla (…) Atlas, Antwerpen (be)
2010 ‘Kunsten Route-Euro Park’, Renaat Braem, Sim Cha Chi, … Marc Schepers (curator), Linkeroever Antwewrpen (be)
2010 ‘Impetus’, Atelier Fine Arts Gallery, Tewodros Hagos, Eyob Kitaba, Behailu Bezabih, Tamrat Gezahegne, Klaus Martens, (Dawit Petros, Aida Muluneh /Addis Fotofest), Mexico Sq., (Leo Lefort, curator) Addis Ababa (et)
2011 ‘Neo Escape’, Atelier Gallery, Michael Tsegaye, Claus Martens, Antonio Fironte, Ezra Wube (Leo Lefort, Curator), Addis Ababa (et)
2012 Bolero, an international art project on the move, 1, Shanthiroad, Shanthinagar, Bangalore (Ind); Galerie VOSS, Gerberstrasse, Dortmund (de), Galerie RIVELLI 798, 798 Artzone, Jiuxianqiao no. 2, Chaoyang Dst, Beijing (ch)
2012 Manifesta 9 Parallel Events, Genk Library, with ArtBolero group, Genk, (be)
2012 BOZAR initiated Africa touring exhibitions, conceived by David Adjaye, (Leo Lefort, curator) (et)
2012 ‘FACE 2 FACE’, Lela Art Gallery, (Leo Lefort, curator), Addis Ababa (et)
2013 ’Celebrating Pan Africanism through Artistic Expression’, Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University, commemorating 50th anniversary of African Union, /media-centre/stories/celebrating-panafricanism-through-artistic-expression, AAU, (Dr.Desta Meghoo, curator), Addis Ababa (et)
2013 ’Leaving for a living’, Art and Advice Gallery, Stevoort Hasselt (be)
2014 Second Room, Antwerp Central Station, windows, Antwerp (be)
2014 Open Studios, 2nd edition, Studio Start and NICC, Deurne (be)
2016 BAD Belgium Art and Design Fair, 1st edition, Gent (be)
2016 ’Imagine Europe: In Search of New Narratives’, video-talk, BOZAR, Brxl (be)
2016 Gallery Resonance, Plovdiv, (bg)
2017 Open door day, NICC/Studio Start, Antwerp (be)
2017 BOLERO, KIOSK, Place des Augustins, Geneva (ch)
2017 BOLERO, EOS Gallery, 38 Cheiden, Victoria, Square, Athens (gr)
2018 ’Funny, How Art Makes You Wander’, (Johan Tahon, Karin Hanssen, Waldrada ONzea (Curator), Ina Leys, Mulugeta Tafesse, Nel Bonte, Inge De Smedt, Morbee Gallery, Knokke (be)
2019 ’FOMA’, group show, Genk (be)
2020 ’des-works on paper’, 1/06-31/06 2020, Agencia Transitos Culturales, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (es)
2020-2021 Bolero Art Group 10th anniversary, André Malraux Center and different locations, Edith Doove (curator), /bolero-an-international-art-project-on-the-move/, Rouen (fr)
2022 ’Vier Maal Vier’, 16 year WARP-Contemporary Art Platform, (Curator, Stef Van Bellingen), St.Niklaas (be)
2022 ’Unsettled’, Duendo Art Projects, Zwartzussenstraat 25, (Curator, Bruno Claessen), Antwerp (be)
2022 Bolero Art Group, Two opening events (off-Documenta 15), (Curators, Anna Laganovska, Jürgen Olbrich, Alexandra Tryanova), Kyiv/Kassel (ua/de)
2022 EX(P)ODUS, Hofke Van Chantraine, Oude Turnhout (be)
2023 ‘Strange Fruit’, Group Show with eight artists, FAAR Hert Straat 5, (Curator Wouter Van de Loot), Antwerp (be)
2023 ‘Beyond FAAR’, Group Show with 65 artists, FAAR Hert Straat 5, Antwerp (be)
2024 ‘Knokke Art Fair’, ‘Contemporary Art’, MPC Art & NFT Gallery, Turnhout (be)
2024 ‘Debottled’, Contrast Art, Antwerp (be)
2024 ‘Strasbourg Art Fair’, ST-Art, MPC Art & NFT Gallery, Strasbourg (fr)
2024 ‘Solo Tentoonstelling- Mulugeta Tafesse’,MPC ART & NFT Gallery, Turnhout (be)
2025 ‘Hands Up’, Contrast Art, Antwerp, (Curator, Luc Theus) Antwerp (be)