Nigatu Tsehay

Nigatu Tsehay views art as a fundamentally inquisitive process. While it may not consistently provide definitive answers, painting enables him to grapple with significant questions and use his unique visual language as a tool for reflection and communication.

Biography of Nigatu Tsehay

Nigatu Tsehay was born and raised in Addis Ababa and initiated his journey in drawing and sketching under the mentorship of artist Tesfaye Nigatu, a private art teacher at the Medhanialem (Medesh) Art Center in Addis Ababa.

In 2005, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from the Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts, where he later served as an Assistant Lecturer from 2005 to 2008. He was awarded a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in 2008 and the Camillo Michele Gloria sponsorship prize for young artists by Gasversorgung Süddeutschland (GVS) in 2009.

From 2010 to 2012, Nigatu Tsehay received sponsorship from the Catholic Academic Foreign National Service (KAAD) to pursue studies in Germany. He successfully completed his studies with a Diploma in Fine Arts from the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, where he studied under Prof. Cordula Güdemann.

His recent solo exhibitions include "Pace of Life" at Addis Fine Art in London (2022), "Fragile Reality" at Galerie Astratto in Dillenburg (2017), and "Time and Continuity" at Freiraum in Böblingen (2013).

Currently, the artist lives and works in Frankfurt, Germany.

Nigatu Tsehay's Art Style

Abundant with human form, Nigatu Tsehay likens his canvases to a momentarily frozen film scene—a snapshot in time carrying the gravity of existence. His works feature distorted characters often gazing in disparate directions, with hands and feet punctuating a forested twist of limbs. Everyday elements such as an elegant sofa, a houseplant, or a tiled floor are intricately fragmented in an almost cubistic manner. The simultaneous portrayal of various perspectives invokes their engagement in the unfolding passage of time.  

By capturing these particular moments, the artist aims to delve into universal themes of existence and the human experience. He skillfully blends precision with abstraction, constructing surrealistic realms that beckon his audience to engage in the fundamental act of inquiry.  

Nigatu Tsehay derives his inspiration from his upbringing in Addis Ababa and his current life in Europe. He seamlessly blends various cultures he has encountered, aiming to capture what he describes as "the indefinable behavioral nature of mankind, associated with the advancement of technological triumph combined in surreal compositions."