A conversation with Tesfaye Urgessa, a painter based between Nurtingen, Germany and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tesfaye's paintings are figurative, fleshy and dynamic. There is often -- amidst the business of his paintings -- an anchor point in the form of a piercing gaze. In this episode, Tesfaye speaks to Alayo from his studio in Nurtingen, about his life and his practice.

*apologies for the low sound quality, Tesfaye's studio is large and echoey*


Keep up with us on instagram:

Tesfaye: @tesfayeurgessa

Alayo: @ablackhistoryofart @alayoakinkugbe

A conversation with Anya Paintsil, a Welsh and Ghanaian artist based in the UK. Anya creates textiles using techniques of rughooking and embroidery. She often includes human and synthetic hair as a material and has explained that she finds many similarities between the act of weaving or “doing” afro hair and textile production techniques. In this episode, Anya speaks to Alayo about her life and her practice.

Keep up with us on instagram:

Anya: @anyapaintsil

Alayo: @ablackhistoryofart  @alayoakinkugbe

"baby hair and afros": https://vortic.art/exhibitions/5288/?sceneId=3287&listview=false