Sound and Vision

Written on December 15, 2010 at 12:29 pm
By Doris Athineos

New paintings by Ethiopian-born Tesfaye Tessema were unveiled at New York’s Skoto Gallery last week (on view through January 22). The soft-spoken artist is at the peak of his performance. Tessema describes his art as “playing jazz with a brush.” We call it eye music. If you put Duke Ellington’s big band on canvas, it would look like Tessema’s “Symphony in Color.” His abstract language of color swings and the United Nations agrees. A few years ago, they turned one of his paintings into a stamp (to raise money for famine relief).

2 Responses to “Sound and Vision”

1. December 22, 2010 at 7:46 am, by Francesca cadel

   Tesfaye is an amazing artist and these paintings show that his energy is liberating and powerful, like sharing the light upon us.

2. December 22, 2010 at 9:28 am, by Jocelyn Lofton

   Your name for Tesfaye’s work, Eye Music, is right on! His paintings dance! Beautiful work! Thank you for sharing!