This One Thing... Ethiopian Art Collective Yatreda

Between 7–12 November, the Fellowship organisation will exhibit groundbreaking photography and AI works at Paris Photo 2023. Founded in 2021, Fellowship works to bring together the most forward-thinking names in the industry, showcasing photographers who embrace innovation while merging tradition with technology. In addition to featuring established artists, Fellowship also provides a platform for rising talent – this year, Yatreda is taking centre stage.

Yatreda is a family of artists from Ethiopia, led by Kiya Tadele, a model-turned-photographer based in Addis Ababa. They describe their work as balancing ‘the new, such as blockchain technology, with the old, preserving classic legends of historical and cultural significance’. At Paris Photo, they are exhibiting a body of work titled Strong Hair, paying tribute to the richness of Ethiopian culture through the art of hair. This collection features 100 unique looping portraits, emphasising the importance of preserving and reviving these looks.

To Yatreda, these portraits are about more than aesthetics – they symbolise immensely important social and cultural messages. “The global influences are vast. The loss of a single hairstyle signifies the fading of a unique visual dialect,” says Tadele. “My ambition is for everyone to embrace and take pride in their robust African hair.” 

Discover more from Yatreda and Fellowship

_{Banished From Paradise, The Birth Of Adam, The End Of Innocence, Adam and Hewan/Yatreda. Strong Hair Mosaic II, Yatreda. All artworks courtesy of the artist}