Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos (Eritrean, born 1979)
Ben, 2002
Signed ‘signature’ ‘2002’ (lower right)
Acrylic on canvas
64.8 x 64.8 cm
Ksh 250,000 – 400,000
(US$) 2,200 – 3,500
Provenance: private collection
Sold Ksh 258,280
With a sensitive and powerful use of colour, light and shadow, Fitsum Woldelibanos captures an intensity of his subjects whilst seeking to trouble the constructive nature of identity. This painting from 10 years ago is a sensitive portrait of someone the artist has painted many times.
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Woldelibanos graduated from the Asmara School of Arts in Eritrea in 2000, and since then has been living and working in Nairobi, Kenya. His work has gathered an enthusiastic following and has been exhibited extensively in Kenya and internationally, including a solo exhibition in Toronto, Canada in 2015, and in Belgium in 2016 as well as many other exhibitions locally and internationally.