Ephrem Solomon (Ethiopian, b. 1983) creates socio-political works using woodcut and mixed media. Solomon explores nature, the effects of climate change, the human condition and the cycle of long-term transformations that occur as time passes. Solomon presents his observations through symbolism and use of archival material, which provide personal and political narratives beyond his locale.
Solo exhibitions include Recycle, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin Germany (2019), Silence, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2018); Yarrow Gallery, Oundle, Peterborough, UK (2018), LIFE VS TIME, Kristin Hjellegjerde, London, UK (2016).
Group exhibitions include Facing The Sun, Schloss Goerne, Germany, (2021); Untitled San Francisco, Berlin & London, Germany & UK (2020); Kubatana, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway (2019), Free Radicals, CBZ Zuidoost, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2019), 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair, London, UK (2018), NGV Triennial, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (2017-18), VOLTA13, Basel, Switzerland (2017), A Painting Today, Stevenson, Cape Town, South Africa (2017), What about Africa?, Witteveen Visual Art Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2016).
Highlights and collections
In 2018, Ephrem Solomon was nominated for the Queen Sonja Print Award. Ephrem Solomon's work can be found in important private and public collections in Dubai, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the UK, including The Studio Museum in Harlem; Royal Ontario Museum, Canada; Saatchi Collection, UK; the Bunker Artspace Museum, USA; Easton Capital/John Friedman Collection, USA; Cuperior Collection/ Oliver Elst; Rift Collection; Ledge Collection; Start/ Tiroche Deleon Collection; Newark Museum, USA; The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia; Cleveland Clinic, USA.