Tigray's Resilience & Hope
The Tigray Art Collective is a beacon of hope, where creativity seamlessly merges with advocacy, healing, and innovation. With a shared passion for art at its core, our collective is unwaveringly devoted to leveraging its transformative power to amplify the voices of Tigrayans. Through diverse artistic expressions, we strive to uphold the rights and well-being of the Tigrayan community, fostering healing amidst adversity while venturing into uncharted territories of imaginative exploration. Embark on a journey where art transcends conventional boundaries, emerging as a formidable force for positive change, resilience, and cultural celebration in Tigray.
Emerging from the grim realities of war, ethnic cleansing, and genocide that have plagued Tigray since November 4, 2020, our collective was born out of a pressing need for solidarity and action. With Ethiopia's government leading a relentless campaign against Tigray, aided by forces from Eritrea, Amhara militias, and others, the humanitarian crisis has spiraled to unprecedented levels, earning it the grim title of "Ethiopia’s forgotten war is the deadliest of the 21st century." Despite the daunting challenges, with over 3 million enduring famine conditions and starvation and 5.2 million in desperate need of urgent aid, including 2.3 million children requiring humanitarian assistance, the Tigray Art Collective stands firm as a beacon of hope, resilience, and solidarity. We harness art as a potent tool for advocacy, healing, and community empowerment across Tigray, Sudanese refugee camps, and the diaspora.
Formally established in January 2022, the Tigray Art Collective has crystalized its vision and mission. However, many of our artists had long been utilizing their art for advocacy, even before the collective's inception. I, Mahder Tella (aka Mahdi), am the founder and creative director of the Tigray Art Collective and an artist dedicated to this cause. Through revenue generated from art sales, we actively support various organizations providing humanitarian assistance, including S.O.S International Inc. in Louisville, KY, epitomizing our steadfast commitment to making a tangible difference in those affected by the war in Tigray.
