An OOA Gallery exhibition in Barcelona, weaving together historical and contemporary voices
Abel Beyene Ethiopia, b. 1995, Behind the cover, 2025. Acrylic and collage on canvas, 119 x 149cm. Courtesy of the artist and OOA Gallery.
OOA Gallery presents ‘My Inner World’, a dual exhibition featuring Ethiopian artist Abel Beyene and London-based artist and designer Simone Brewster, on view in Barcelona from 13 September to 19 October 2025. The exhibition juxtaposes figuration and abstraction to explore identity, resilience, and transformation across continents.
Abel Beyene: Figurative Narratives from East Africa
Born in Addis Ababa in 1995, Abel Beyene has emerged as one of East Africa’s most compelling contemporary artists. Working across acrylic, oil, collage, photography, and digital media, his figurative impressionist compositions probe the emotional and psychological dimensions of identity, memory, and migration.
“My work is rooted in the emotional and psychological weight of human presence—how appearances, personal histories, and memory are all deeply intertwined,” Beyene explains. “I paint to preserve fleeting connections and to explore the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of the human form.”
The ten new works created for ‘My Inner World’ reflect Beyene’s layered approach—collage, textiles, and varied brushwork come together in meditations on solidarity, cultural memory, and Ethiopian aesthetics. Lush dreamlike environments frame his figures, serving as both metaphor and medium. “Nature offers a sense of tranquillity and clarity,” he notes, “a counterpoint to the psychological intensity of the figures.”
Simone Brewster: Abstraction as a Mirror of the Self
London-based artist and designer Simone Brewster (b. 1983) brings an abstract perspective to the exhibition, informed by her Caribbean heritage and training in architecture and design. Her paintings pulse with rhythm and lyrical gesture, creating non-figurative forms that embody Black female narratives, resilience, and transformation.
Her abstractions offer a conceptual counterpoint to Beyene’s figuration, highlighting the emotional and narrative potential of abstraction as a mirror for identity.
A Dialogue Across Continents
Placed in dialogue, Beyene’s figurative impressionism and Brewster’s abstract language reveal convergences across different practices. The exhibition underscores OOA Gallery’s commitment to presenting artists whose work transcends geography and challenges established narratives.
For Beyene, these themes are deeply personal. “Though my figures may appear as portraits of African individuals, they transcend identity,” he reflects. “They represent a deeper inquiry into selfhood, presence, and cultural belonging.”
Beyene’s work often situates Ethiopianness within broader African and global contexts. “I see myself as both a storyteller and a cultural documentarian,” he says. “My paintings reflect Ethiopia’s multifaceted heritage—its rituals, social fabric, and evolving identity.”
Opening Programme
The exhibition opened on 13 September 2025 at 8 pm with a performance by Silvia Singer Maye (Kreativtantz) and a cava cocktail reception.
About OOA Gallery
OOA Gallery is dedicated to presenting contemporary African art through exhibitions, curated collections, and collectable design objects. Its mission is to support emerging and mid-career artists while fostering international cultural dialogues.
‘My Inner World’, featuring Abel Beyene and Simone Brewster, is on view at OOA Gallery, Barcelona, from 13 September to 19 October 2025. For more information, visit ooagallery.com.
