ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian contemporary artist Tesfaye Urgessa is gaining renewed international attention after the prestigious White Cube gallery announced that it will represent him.

The announcement comes ahead of Urgessa’s debut exhibition with White Cube in Hong Kong, titled “The Lingering Departure,” which is scheduled to open on September 9 and run through October 20, 2026.

The exhibition will feature new paintings and works on paper created over the past year. His work explores themes including migration, family relationships and community, connecting personal experiences with wider social questions.

Urgessa’s growing international profile reflects the increasing visibility of contemporary Ethiopian art on major global platforms. His work has already been exhibited at institutions and galleries in Europe, Asia and North America.

His painting Fiber of grace (Schutz) 2 is also scheduled to appear at the 2026 Frieze Seoul art fair, further expanding his international reach.

The development highlights the growing global demand for contemporary Ethiopian artists and gives Ethiopia’s creative sector another prominent international platform.