Painting, Puppetry & Animation by Gabrielle Tesfaye

Gabrielle Tesfaye is an interdisciplinary artist versed in painting, animation, film, puppetry and interactive installation. Tesfaye is raised in the USA as a first-generation, to an Ethiopian father and mixed-heritage Jamaican mother. Her extensive international travel and exposure to multiculturalism in her life, echoes itself in her mixed media approach to art making and cross-cultural content.

Gabrielle Tesfaye stands at the forefront of contemporary art, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural narratives through her interdisciplinary approach. A versatile artist fluent in painting, animation, film, puppetry, and interactive installations, Tesfaye’s work resonates deeply with themes of identity, heritage, and cross-cultural dialogue.

Raised in the USA as a first-generation American to an Ethiopian father and mixed-heritage Jamaican mother, Tesfaye’s upbringing was imbued with a vibrant blend of multicultural influences. Her extensive international travels further enriched her perspective, nurturing a profound appreciation for diverse traditions and narratives. This multicultural mosaic is vividly reflected in her artistic endeavors, where she seamlessly merges different media to explore and celebrate the complexities of cultural intersections.

““I am intrigued by folk media arts of different cultures, specifically the traditional puppetry arts of Southeast Asia. Puppetry exists throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India, each different yet with cross-cultural exchanges. I am inspired by wooden, string and shadow puppetry arts, its place in being a bridge between arts, spirituality and culture.“”

Tesfaye’s artistic journey began with formal training in film at institutions like the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and Mahidol University International College in Bangkok, Thailand. She later pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Doha, Qatar. This diverse educational background provided her with a broad toolkit to experiment with storytelling across various mediums.

Central to Tesfaye’s artistic exploration is the concept of cultural storytelling and heritage preservation. Her research delves deep into African diaspora, Afro-futurism, and ancient puppetry practices, seeking to revive and reinterpret traditional forms within contemporary contexts. She uses her art not only as a means of personal expression but also as a powerful tool to bridge generational and cultural gaps.

In her own words, Tesfaye describes her fascination with folk media arts, particularly traditional puppetry across Southeast Asia. She draws inspiration from the intricate craftsmanship and symbolic richness of wooden, string, and shadow puppetry, viewing them as conduits that connect art, spirituality, and culture. This influence is palpable in her work, where she employs larger-than-life puppets to embody ancestral and celestial ideas, blending ancient symbolism with modern languages.

Beyond traditional gallery exhibitions, Tesfaye incorporates interactive elements into her installations, transforming conventional art spaces into immersive, otherworldly experiences. Her installations invite viewers to engage with art beyond its physical dimensions, encouraging dialogue and introspection through innovative presentation techniques.

““My research is rooted in folk media, ancient puppetry practices and cultural storytelling through diasporas. I use the body in the form of larger than life scale puppets, as a vessel to personify ancestral and celestial ideas, transforming ancient symbolism into a contemporary languages. I work primarily 2d based, working with paper, watercolours, and inks. I give interactive aspects to my installations, turning traditional art gallery space into otherworldly experience for viewers to experience art beyond the physical.  In addition to installation work in exhibition spaces, I use these puppets in the animation studio, creating personal narratives and cultural mythologies through stop motion cut out animation. ””

Tesfaye’s commitment to cultural exchange and storytelling extends into her animation projects, where she creates personal narratives and cultural mythologies through stop-motion cut-out animation. This fusion of puppetry and animation allows her to explore dynamic narratives that resonate on both personal and universal levels, amplifying voices and perspectives that might otherwise remain unheard.

Gabrielle Tesfaye’s poignant short film “Nebsei” delves deep into the harrowing realities faced by women who endured sexual and gender-based violence during the Tigray War in Ethiopia. The title itself, derived from the Tigrigna language meaning ‘my body’, serves as a powerful invocation of personal ownership and reclaiming of narrative in the face of profound trauma. Her interdisciplinary practice serves as a testament to the transformative power of art in fostering understanding, empathy, and connection across borders and generations.

In “Nebsei,” Tesfaye employs her expertise in animation to transcend traditional documentary formats, using visual metaphor and symbolism to convey the depths of trauma and the journey towards healing. The animation serves not only as a storytelling device but also as a means to protect the identities of the survivors, offering them a veil of anonymity while amplifying their voices.

Through “Nebsei,” Gabrielle Tesfaye underscores the importance of bearing witness and standing in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones. Her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and shedding light on overlooked narratives underscores the transformative potential of art as a catalyst for empathy and social change.