On View: December 11-17, 2015
Opening Reception: December 17, 2015 | 6-8 p.m.

Location: Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center

Desta Hagos is a renowned Ethiopian artist and the first female painter to have a solo exhibition in Ethiopia, in 1969. Her work has appeared in more than 50 national and international exhibitions during the course of the last four decades and has received numerous awards and commendations. Her work is currently featured in a group exhibit in Art Basel Miami.

A student of professor Jerry Slattum while at Cal Lutheran, Desta earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts while her fiancé Yohannes earned his MBA. In her time on campus, and with Slattum’s encouragement, she exhibited her paintings in four group and solo shows as an undergraduate. Returning home to Ethiopia during a time of great civil unrest, Desta overcame gender bias to exhibit her work. She has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her art and philanthropic work and was featured in the CLU Magazine. You can learn more about her work by visiting artistdestahagos.com.

Please join us for the opening reception Thursday, December 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second floor lobby of the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, featuring live acoustic guitarist. The paintings will be on exhibit until December 21.

Image: Desta Hagos, Composition # 7, oil on Canvas, 47 x 47 inches, courtesy of the artist.