Gedewon Makonnen, called Gedewon (1939–1995), was an Ethiopian artist. Born in

Begemder Begemder (; also known as Gondar or Gonder) was a province in northwest Ethiopia. The alternative names come from its capital during the 20th century, Gondar. Etymology A plausible source for the name ''Bega'' is that the word means "dry" in t ...

, Gedewon trained as a

cleric Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

in the

Ethiopian Orthodox Church The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church () is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Christian churches in Africa originating before European colonization of the continent, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church dates bac ...

. As part of his training, he learned to draw

talisman A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...

s, which soon became much sought-after among Western collectors. Some of his drawings are now in

The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) is a private collection created in 1989 by Jean Pigozzi, an Italian businessman, after his encounter with French independent curator, André Magnin. Magnin specializes in art from non-Western culture ...

Jean Pigozzi Jean "Johnny" Pigozzi (born 1952), heir to the CEO of the automobile brand Simca, is an art collector, photographer and fashion designer. He lives in Geneva. Biography Pigozzi is a "French-born Italian". He was born in Paris in 1952 and is th ...

. He died in Därtähal in 1995.

Exhibitions

*2005 Arts of Africa, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, France *2005 African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection, Museum of Fine Art Houston, USA *2003 – 2004 Vernacular Visionaries: International Outsider Art in Context, Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA *2002 Art that Heals, Apex Art, New York, USA *2001 Dessins Choisis, Forum Culturel de Blanc-Mesnil, Le Blanc-Mesnil, France *2001 Working in the Spirit : Gedewon and Vyakul, Cavin-Morris Gallery, New York, USA *2000 Partage d’Exotismes, La Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France *1998 Africa, Africa : A vibrant Art from a Dynamic Continent, Tobu Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan

References

Biographical sketchThe Contemporary African Art Collection
1939 births 1995 deaths Ethiopian artists {{Ethiopia-artist-stub