Tewodros Hagos (b. 1974, Addis Ababa), graduated from Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts and Design in 1995. Today, Hagos is considered to be one of the most promising artists of his generation. His works have been exhibited in Ethiopia, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the US. Hagos’ work is often inspired by contemporary journalistic imagery as he explores the many layers of social injustice experienced by migrants. At home in Ethopia, his paintings are witness to the profound transformation and evolution of Ethiopia.
Solo exhibitions include Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Salon, West Palm Beach, Florida (2024), The Enigma of the Gaze, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2024); Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Salon, West Palm Beach, USA, (2024); Fragile, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2023); Mirage, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2022); THE DESPERATE JOURNEY II, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2021); THE DESPERATE JOURNEY, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2020); LeLa gallery, Addis Ababa (2019); LeLa gallery, Addis Ababa (2017); Alliance Ethio-Francaise, Addis Ababa (2016); LeLa Gallery, Addis Ababa (2015); Alliance Ethio-Francaise, Dere Dawa (2014); Ethiopia cultural centre, Los Angeles (2013); Alliance Ethio-Francaise, Addis Ababa (2010); Gallery BEK, Leuven (2007); Gallery KN10, Antwerp (2004); kappelen cultural center, kappelen (2000); Studio am Schloss, Berlin (1998); Futuro cultural center, Rome (1998).
Group exhibitions include Double ID: CCH Pounder-Koné Collection, The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI (2024) LOST GIRLS, Flowers Gallery, London, UK (2023): Untitled Miami Beach Art Fair, Miami, USA (2022); The Unseen, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2022); Unsettled, Duende Art Projects, Antwerp, Belgium (2022);Young Curators: Melketenner / Milk Teeth, Nitja Centre of Contemporary Art, Lillehammer, Norway (2022); Facing the Sun, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2021); 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, London (2021); LeLa gallery Addis Ababa (2018); Lela art gallery, Addis abeba (2016); laphto art gallery Addis Ababa (2015); LeLa gallery, Addis Ababa (2014); Atelier Fine Art Gallery, Addis Ababa (2012); Studio am Scholes Berlin (2008); Biblotheek Permeke, Antwerp (2007); Biblotheek Durne, Antwerp (2005).
Highlights and Collections
Tewodros Hagos' work was featured in The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw's publication "Was Socialist Realism Global?"; with an essay by art historian Kate Cowcher, published by The University of Chicago Press. In 2021 Tewodros Hagos received the second prize award from the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture following his award in 2017 of the prestigious “Chevalier of France’s Order of Arts and Letters” from the Culture and Communication Minister of France. His works can be found in many public and private collections worldwide including the Kistefos Museum, Oslo, Norway; Laurent Dumas, Farida et Henri Seydoux Collection, France; the Bunker Artspace Museum, USA; Arthur Lewis Collection, USA; Easton Capital Collection, USA; Birchby Collection, USA; W Art Foundation and the C.C.H. Pounder Collection, USA; Naimah/IIham Foundation, UK/Malaysia.