Ethiopia at the Crossroads

This extraordinary exhibition celebrates the artistic traditions of Ethiopia from their origins to the present day. Explore nearly 2,000 years of Ethiopian art and culture through more than 200 objects, including painted religious icons, illuminated manuscripts, gospel books, coins, metalwork and carvings paired with works by renowned contemporary Ethiopian artists including Wosene Worke Kosrof, Julie Mehretu, Helina Metaferia, Aïda Muluneh and Elias Sime.

Seated in the Horn of Africa between Europe and the Middle East, Ethiopia is an intersection of diverse cultures, religions and climates. Ethiopia at the Crossroads examines the enormous cultural significance of this often-overlooked African nation through art that tells the story of the region’s history and demonstrates the vibrancy of cross-cultural exchange and the human role in the creation and movement of these art objects. This exhibition draws from PEM’s collection of Ethiopian icons and processional crosses, and is augmented with loans from American, European and Ethiopian lenders.

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Ethiopia at the Crossroads is co-organized by the Peabody Essex Museum, the Walters Art Museum and the Toledo Museum of Art. The exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (MA-253352-OMS-23) and two major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The exhibition at PEM is made possible by the generosity of Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. We also thank James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes, Chip and Susan Robie, and Timothy T. Hilton as supporters of the Exhibition Innovation Fund. We recognize the generosity of the East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum.

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.