Meet the 3 Ethiopians under 30 who are making a difference globally

Awol Erizku

Ethiopian born and South Bronx, New York raised, 29-year-old Awol Erizku is an artist most noted for his works “Girl with a Bamboo Earring” and the “The Only Way is Up.” Erizku’s primary genres of focus are painting, sculpture, and photography.  He attended Cooper Union where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts then Yale University where he earned his Master’s in Fine Arts. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art and the Hasted-Kraeutler gallery in NY. He iconically shot Beyoncè’s birth announcement of twins on social media.  His artwork can be seen London, Brussels, L.A. and Miami as well.

Erizku doesn’t like his creations to be categorized, he quoted to Vulture: “Honestly, I don’t see [my work] as just being about black culture; it’s about my culture, and I’m documenting my culture,” “If we label everything as black or white or yellow or whatever, then it becomes this thing of, this belongs here, this belongs there.” “There’s an aspect of my work that I want to be universal. I never go into my studio and say, Well, this is strictly for this group, and I don’t want this group to get it.”

Erizku was featured on the Forbes art and style list.