Tafari Wald
Member
Painting
About the Artist
Tafari Wald was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where his passion for art was nurtured from a young age. He graduated from the Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts in 1983 with high distinction in printmaking and design, laying a solid foundation for his artistic journey. In 1987, Tafari earned a highly competitive visual art scholarship to the Soviet Union, a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication.
Continuing his pursuit of artistic excellence, Tafari moved to the United States and enrolled at Howard University. In 1993, he graduated Magna Cum Laude in printmaking and earned his MFA, a remarkable achievement that further cemented his status as an emerging artist. His educational experiences in diverse cultural settings profoundly influenced his artistic vision, creating a unique blend of traditional Ethiopian themes and contemporary techniques.
Shortly after graduating, Tafari decided to teach, thinking of transferring his talent to young people. Due to that commitment, he has taught traditional art and digital media in the District of Columbia Public High Schools since 1994. He has been teaching at the Art League School in Alexandria VA, and at Howard University as a printmaking lecturer for a short period.
Tafari’s work has been widely exhibited in prestigious venues. He has participated in multiple group shows at Skoto Gallery in Soho-New York City, the Armour J. Blackburn University Center at Howard University, and American University, among others. His art consistently resonates with audiences, reflecting his mastery of painting with printmaking ink and rollers and conveying bold and powerful images.
In addition to group exhibitions, Tafari has held several solo exhibitions, showcasing his evolving style and artistic voice. His solo shows were held in George Town, Washington, D.C., The Riggs National Bank, and Alliances Ethio-Francaise in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tafari Wald continues to inspire through his art, bridging cultures and perspectives with every piece he creates.
Artist Statement
Tafari Wald
We all know and realize that art is an expression of what we see, feel, and imagine. However, digging deeper and capturing uninvestigated experiences that are buried in our unconscious mind leads to unknown and experimental accidents. I firmly believe basic academic studies in drawing and painting should position one to a solid foundation. As a result of that belief, I studied representational art, concentrating on realistic images for several years. Nonetheless, I gradually transformed my style and direction to abstraction and nonobjective art. Immersing into that deep unconscious mind searching for my experiences in order to merge them with the things I see and hear every day.
The world is occupied with natural and unnatural things that serve as inspiration for many in various occupations, and this is true especially for artists. As an artist, I constantly use nature and my surroundings as my go-to library. Whether rundown or luxurious, a house has a different look in my mind; I imagine a decrepit or shiny car with organic and geometric shapes in exuberant or doleful colors. My works are filled with basic and bright colors excluding too many tints and shades. I invite my audience to see my paintings as if they see a bouquet of flowers where they can experience copious and dense colors. I also, invite people to ask themselves whether they can see themselves inside my paintings. I’m not reflecting my life or my beliefs but jotting down what we all witness daily. Ask yourself whether you can visualize something resembling your life, surroundings, experiences, and whatnot: not actually, but in a different scope.
So, art is not always what we see, feel, or imagine. It is the interpretation of our thoughts and perceptions, rather. What we see and hear is casual and limited but the experiences tormented, straightened, reshuffled, constantly in our mind. It reveals a different view to help us produce ironclad creativity. I tried to visit this reality often and surface my ideas onto canvas based upon that.