Merikokeb Berhanu
Born in 1977 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Merikokeb Berhanu graduated in 2002 from Addis Ababa University, Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, with a focus on mural design. Her paintings deftly balance abstraction and recognisable forms, featuring dense backgrounds intertwined with recurring organic elements such as cellular structures, budding plants, and stylised anthropomorphic forms. These compositions explore the complexities of contemporary life, drawing inspiration from both urban and rural landscapes, and delving into themes of rapid urbanisation and the tension between nature and technology. Her recent works incorporate symbols like circuit board patterns and skeletal forms, reflecting on society's estrangement from the natural world.
Berhanu's work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, 2022 and Making Their Mark: Art by Women in the Shah Garg Collection, curated by Cecilia Alemani, Shah Garg Foundation, New York, 2023. Her paintings are part of several prestigious institutional collections, including Tate, London, UK; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA; Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (promised gift); Inhotim Museum, Brumadinho, Brazil; and Fondation H, Antananarivo, Madagascar.