Ermias Ekube

Ermias Ekube (b. 1970, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) studied at the Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts and Design, graduating in 1990. He lives and works in Kalmar, Sweden. Merging figurative and conceptual strands, Ekube’s work draws on thoughts and memories to imbue stories with meaning via simple objects, signs and gestures. Recent exhibitions include Altering Memories, Almas Art Foundation at The Africa Centre (London, 2024); Memories are we are memories, Ed Cross (London, 2024); Foreign Lands, Ed Cross (London, 2023); The process of changing a meaning that matters or not, Oskarshamn Kulturhuset (Oskarshamn, 2019); En gränslös blick, Norrköpings Konstmuseum (Norrköpings, 2018); African Artists for Development (Vienna, 2017); and Do Lives Matter?, Malhuset (Oslo, 2016-17).

Ermias Ekube: Memories are we are memories, a survey of the artist’s life and work, was published by the Almas Art Foundation, London, in 2024. 

Ekube’s work can be found in a number of notable private collections internationally, including those of Farah Fonkenell, Majed Halawi and Anthony Athaide.

In 2024, Ekube completed a successful residency at dot.ateliers (Accra, Ghana). Several works from the residency were acquired by the renowned artist, collector and dot.ateliers founder, Amoako Boafo.