This expansive new space will further the gallery’s ambitious and diverse exhibition programme, with increased capacity for the presentation of large-scale works and installations.

OPENING CELEBRATION PARTY
with DJ and BAR on
Thursday, January 16th
from 7pm onwards

Established in 2012, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery opened its first space in Berlin in 2018 and has since grown to establish itself in multiple cultural hubs across Europe and the United States. Located in a vibrant arts quarter amid numerous other international galleries, the new, larger Berlin space will become a cornerstone for artistic discourse, creating a platform where both emerging and established artists can connect with a global audience.

Opening in January 2025, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery will inaugurate its Berlin space with a solo exhibition by celebrated Ethiopian artist Dawit Abebe, who has been represented by the gallery since its inception and is known internationally for his innovative approach to themes of identity, power, and knowledge.

The show Barefoot (ባዶ እግር) will encompass a striking new series of large-scale mixed media paintings that continue Abebe’s investigation into power structures and belief systems.

The Berlin gallery joins the ranks of Kristin Hjellegjerde’s other notable spaces, including the recent expansions into West Palm Beach, Florida and Tower Bridge, London.

Dawit Abebe – Barefoot (ባዶ እግር)

17 January – 15 February 2025, Berlin

Private View: Thursday 16th January 2025,  7-10pm  
Berlin

View works

About Dawit Abebe:

Dawit Abebe (b. 1978, Ethiopia) graduated from the Alle School of Fine Art and Design, part of Addis Ababa University with a diploma in painting, sculpture, graphics, photography and industrial design in 2001. His work relies on vibrant, lively colours, which at times contradict the dark subject matter, addressing contemporary concerns about the environment, such as high-tech urbanisation and human idea of progress.

In 2001, he founded the Habesha Art Studio in his native Ethiopia, where he continues to be a full-time artist-in-residence. In addition to numerous successful international exhibitions across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Abebe has also worked with charities such as UNICEF to hold workshops for street children in Arba Minch, Jinka and Addis Ababa.  

Header Image: Barefoot (ባዶ እግር) 10, 2024, Acrylic and Collage on canvas, 60 x 70 cm, 23 5/8 x 27 1/2 in