Selome Muleta

This work has been kindly donated by the artist

London, Frieze London, Addis Fine Art, 2022

Selome Muleta’s artistic exploration concerns itself with the portrayal of female figures engaged in an act of introspection. She employs acrylic and oil pastel on canvas as her chosen medium. Muleta’s works simultaneously examines and celebrates the complex inner worlds of her subjects. The stillness of these figures contrasts with the dynamic patterns and flourishing flora that intertwine with their surroundings. Muleta utilizes translucent washes of colour to establish a contemplative harmony between her subjects and the environments they inhabit. Occasionally, the faces of her characters are obscured or cropped, directing the viewer's attention towards the sparse collection of objects that adorn the space. A drooping plant, a slumbering feline companion, a distant, crookedly framed portrait—all blur the line between living and inanimate elements. Instead, the focus shifts to the sheer physical presence of existence. Much like the bottles and bowls depicted in Morandi's work and Hockney's plant-filled vases, the flattened characters and objects rendered by Muleta’s brush exude a serene vitality, resonating with the energy of their very being.