TSEDAYE MAKONNEN
ABOUT | WORKS | EXHIBITIONS
ABOUT
Tsedaye Makonnen’s studio and research-based practice explores the blurring between and transience of borders and identities, often using her body as the conduit and the material. further creating new visual language that portrays our geographic and ancestral connectivity across manufactured borders and circumstances. as of late, her work is an abstracted participatory intervention drawing from universal designs from the horn of Africa and found throughout the diaspora that is both an intimate memorialization and protective sanctuary for black lives.
Makonnen’s multidisciplinary practice recently includes a Smithsonian artist research fellowship, dc public library maker residency, an oral history project grant and the savage-lewis artist residency on Martha’s Vineyard. she has performed at the Venice Biennale, Art Basel Miami, Smithsonian national museum of African Art, Smithsonian national portrait gallery, El Museo del Barrio, queens museum, festival international d’art performance in Martinique, Chale Wote street art festival in Ghana, Fendika cultural center in Ethiopia and more. she has been taking part in speaking engagements across the country connecting migration and intersectional feminism at NYU, Dplafest in Chicago, common field, black portraitures and more. her current body of work that involves her light installations have been exhibited at the August Wilson cultural center in Pittsburgh, the national gallery of art and at Carroll square gallery in dc. presently she is in a two-person exhibit on black leisure, legacy and womanhood titled ‘i came by boat so meet me at the beach’ at the August Wilson cultural center dedicated to performance art, showing the extensive work that Makonnen and Ayana Evans created during their month-long art on the vine residency on the vineyard, along with many other current & upcoming group shows, performances, talks and a curatorial project. Makonnen lives in Washington, DC with her 9 year-old son.ll your story online can make all the difference.
WORKS
Senait & Nahom | The Peacemaker & The Comforter | ሰናይት :: እና :: ናሆም
Acrylic mirror, LED light bulbs, wire mesh, MDF, lighting wiring
Size variable
The Astral Sea
Edition of 3
Acrylic mirror and fabric
18 x 3 ft
Senait & Nahom | The Peacemaker & The Comforter | ሰናይት :: እና :: ናሆም
Acrylic mirror, LED light bulbs, wire mesh, MDF, lighting wiring
Overall dimensions variable
You Have No Idea Who You Are Dealing With
Edition of 5
Archival ink & matte photo paper
20 x 30 in
EXHIBITIONS
LatchKey Gallery | 173 Henry Street | info@latchkeygallery.com | 646.213.9070