CHICAGO.- The Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) announces the opening of Painting Ethiopia: The Life and Work of Qes Adamu Tesfaw. On display from Saturday, September 1 to Sunday, November 4, 2007, the exhibition showcases the remarkable paintings of Qes Adamu Tesfaw, which depict the social, political, and religious history of Ethiopia as well as contemporary popular culture.

The exhibition features 36 paintings portraying the richness of both religious and secular life in Ethiopia, along with scenes from important historical events that have shaped the country’s identity. Qes Adamu’s style is infused with a sense of humor that informs the self-awareness of his art.

Pamela Ambrose, director of LUMA, explains the connection between the exhibit and the Chicago community: “Over the past 20 years, a recent wave of immigration has increased the Ethiopian population here in Chicago, creating a ethnic and cultural group, and we hope, through the beauty and narratives of Qes Adamu’s work, to acquaint our museum visitors with the richness of Ethiopian culture.”

The exhibition is curated by Dr. Raymond Silverman, professor of the history of art and Afro-American and African studies at the University of Michigan, and organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA and the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University.

Dr. Silverman first encountered Qes Adamu’s work in 1991, and eventually met him in 1993 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Visiting the artist’s house, Dr. Silverman found the walls covered with murals of incredible intensity. After 11 years and several visits with the artist, Dr. Silverman has transformed Qes Adamu’s art into an informative exhibition that features almost 2,000 years of culture and history, as seen through the eyes of one fascinating artist.

The Loyola University Museum of Art, opened in October 2005, is dedicated to the exploration, promotion, and understanding of art and artistic expression that attempts to illuminate the enduring spiritual questions and concerns of all cultures and societies. As a museum with an interest in education and educational programming, LUMA reflects the University’s Jesuit mission and is dedicated to helping men and women of all creeds explore the roots of their own faith and spiritual quest. Located at Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus, the museum occupies the main floor (street level), second, and third floors of the University’s historic Lewis Towers on Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue. For more information, please visit the museum’s Web site at LUC.edu/luma.