Mulugeta Gebrekidan, a celebrated Ethiopian artist, a father of three, and a friend to many, has lost his life tragically due to ransom kidnapping while on a weekend trip to a resort outside the city on June 18, 2023. Though unrelated to his death, he was also an unfortunate victim of mass arrest in relation to the state of Emergency during the war in Tigray about a year earlier.

Born in 1969, Mulugeta was known for his critically acclaimed artistry and radiant personality. His untimely passing shocked his family, friends, and professional network and left everyone in disbelief and sadness. He was an artist whose practice has inspired the younger generation. Family and friends regarded Mulugeta as the most humble, loving, and caring person, who was so close with his three children, the love he surrounded them with, the sacrifice he made to raise them, and how he seamlessly succeeded in balancing his art and fatherhood. His professional circle knew him through his critical and engaging projects, which constantly examined society and the state.

Mulugeta was known first as a painter and graphic designer and later as an installation, video, photography, and performance artist. He was known for his generosity in sharing his experiences both locally and internationally through exhibitions, residencies, workshops, lectures, performances, and publications. When asked why he made art, Mulugeta once stated,

"I make art for two main reasons. The first is because I love to be engaged in creativity and enjoy the process of making art. The second reason is that I have an unquenchable thirst for expressing my feelings, life experiences, and interpretations of the natural world. The driving force behind my art has been my ongoing search for knowledge and experimentation for more effective artistic expression."

Mulugeta's works gained international recognition across continents. He participated in the Dakart Biennale in Senegal and did multiple residency programs, workshops, and festivals in Africa, Europe, and the United States. He also received the Innovation Award at the "KLA ART 014" Festival Exhibition in Kampala, Uganda. Mulugeta was one of the artists who could win the hearts of a younger generation of artists. He regarded them as equals, sharing his projects, enthusiasm, and critical reflection tirelessly. Whoever encountered his presence witnessed his big smile and open arms as he embraced all equally. Mulugeta was also an active member and a kind supporter of the Netsa Art Village collective, generously contributing to its major projects such as "Wax and Gold " and international public art performances in Addis Ababa.

Today, that smile is no more. He is no longer with us. What remains is his work, his forward-thinking approach to life, and the lasting intimate memory he left with us.

We, a group of professionals (listed below) came together to find a way for his legacy to be accessible to the Ethiopian and international community in the form of publication and beyond. This publication is to combine text materials from professionals who have known mulugeta as a person and as an artist or both. Moreover, the publication will include Mulugeta own writings and documentation of his works. Mulugeta is known for his highly professional engagements and documentation habits, both in his artistic practices and in any collaborative projects for which he is responsible. He has left us with a profound documentation of his works, which we have the privilege to navigate through.

We are here, asking for your support in raising funds in order to produce a publication, ‘Mulugeta Gebrekidan, the Artist’. With your generous support, we aim to archive the life and works of Mulugeta Gebrekidan, whom generations to come will benefit from his works, philosophy, and legacy.

Details on the Publication:

The publication is planned to be a Hardcover with a Letter Size, 180 pages on 150 grams on art paper

with first edition of 1000 copies.

Our goal is to reach 8,500 CAD (Canadian Dollar) for Printing and distribution of the Publication*

*Mulugeta has been blessed with personal and professional friends around the world. And as a way of support, all the contributors, design, and distribution will be completed without any fee.

This GoFundMe account was created by Addisalem Gebrekindan Desta. Addisalem is the brother of Mulugeta Gebrekidan, who is currently based in Ottawa, Canada. All the funds raised from this campaign will be transferred to Addisalem's bank account in Canada to be fully used for the printing and distribution of the book to be published on the life and work of the late Artist Mulugeta Gebrekindan.

Editorial committee members:

The Editorial Commeetee comprises Berhanu Ashagrie, Mihret Kebede, Sinkineh Eshetu, Konjit Seyoum, Mulugeta Tafesse, and Robel Temesgen.

All proceedings of this fundraising will directly go to publishing the book. The fund will be managed and overseen by Mulugeta’s Brother, Addis Alem Gebrekidan and the editorial team jointly. The publication will be launched at the Gebre Kristos Desta Center, Modern Art Museum in Addis Ababa, in the presence of his family, friends, and artist community.

Short Biography of Mulugeta Gebrekidan

Mulugeta Gebrekidan was a visual artist working with multimedia, and he was based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After studying painting at the Addis Ababa University's Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, he has exhibited his works locally and internationally.

Through his site-specific works and public art interventions, he is known for creating a platform for visual, conceptual, and public dialogue on social issues. In his recent works, he reflects on the questions of home and belongingness, displacement, identity, history, and culture.

Having lived in a city where rapid urban transformation is changing the cityscape and life of the society, he became interested in exploring peoples' lives against a backdrop of tension between modernity and tradition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also looked at the struggle of adaptation and the coping mechanisms of the poor in a new environment in the context of the need for survival. The juxtaposition of extremes, such as poverty and wealth, power and incapacity, became the core element of his work.