Tesfaye Hiwet Hidaru left Ethiopia as a teenager at the start of the Derg period but knew without a doubt that he always wanted to return home when the time was right – he began with visits after the Derg was ousted in 1991 and then moved back permanently. He knew exactly what he wanted to do – the choice was obvious. His plan was to open an art gallery with a restaurant – the popular Makush which has been a successful business ever since. Tesfaye’s mission was to draw artists who has been painting behind closed doors and to create a platform for them to display and sell their works of art. He had run a popular art gallery in Washington DC so knew that there was a niche market for an art gallery in Addis.
Makush Gallery began with 15 artists and now proudly promotes the art of 120 artists. Sadly Tesfaye died in 2021 and Makush are now owned jointly by his nephew Makush’s former art and marketing director, Nathaniel Yohannes and Bruk Hiwet, Tesfayes younger brother. Nati runs the Gallery and loves his continuing role of promoting local artists and marketing their work and knows every angle of the business. Nati has also been instrumental in sourcing new artists for the gallery (taking on around 10 new artists annually) and developing their social media. Some artists are self-taught and others have studied art formally but they have all benefitted from linking with Makush – artists are often invited by NGO’s and Embassies (including to home countries for exhibitions abroad) and a wide network of tourists and expats have access to their work. Makush has been influential in benefitting the country with foreign currency through international sales and exhibitions.
Makush offers a pleasant environment for viewing and buying (artwork is shipped or delivered to customers both locally and internationally) and has cultivated a steady stream of customers over the years. The commercial success of Makush has helped artists develop careers which when they started out wanting to pursue, would have seemed like an impossible dream! Makush along with Dashen bank support young artists with vital funds for paints, canvasses, easels and other essential equipment they need to be able to advance their careers as artists.
Makush also uses its corporate social responsibility to contribute profit from art sales to support local causes including Hamlin Fistula Hospital and supporting ICS (International Community School) with generous funding for their scholarship program aimed at educating bright Ethiopian students.
Business inevitably declined during Covid but after a successful summer exhibition in the USA, Makush looks forward to the next 20 years with enthusiasm and continuing to promote artists, newly discovered artists and established ones!
Located on Bole Road, 1st floor Mega Building
Tel: +251911418602
https://www.facebook.com/Makushhttps://makushethiopianart.com
