tezeta (teh-zeh-tah): an Amharic word that roughly translates to memory, nostalgia, or longing

This body of work is an exploration of the physical and figurative aspects of “place.” On one hand, the word “place” refers to our built environment, choices of design, and our interactions with the physical world. On the other hand, it refers to a sense of belonging that is cultural and emotional–still deeply tied to the physical world, but able to exist without it through memory. I invite the viewer to step into the threshold separating “here and now” from”‘then and there.” 

Physical spaces such as markets, homes, and schools are where most of our memories are made, and the physicality of a space is significant in shaping our upbringing. I am deeply influenced and inspired by the colors, textures, and sounds that surrounded me during my childhood in Ethiopia. 

When I came to the U.S. from Addis Ababa as a teenager, I found myself existing in a liminal space. I longed for the outdoor markets, casual coffee gatherings, and kids kicking soccer balls on narrow streets. This was where my sense of place rested and suddenly it was nowhere to be found. I had to completely reframe my understanding of place. By acknowledging the importance of place in shaping our identity, I explore what happens when we are separated from our places by distance and time. – Yeabsera Tabb

About the Artist 

Yeabsera Tabb is an interdisciplinary visual artist with a focus in printmaking and textiles. Her work explores the intersectionalities and liminal space contained within one’s personal identity. 

As an artist, Yeabsera often struggles to reconcile her pain, bewilderment, and anger with societal expectations to create beauty. Acknowledging anger, joy, and resistance, her work exists in a complicated middle ground, invoking the recognition and appreciation of disparate feelings and experiences.

After graduating with degrees in both Design for Social Impact and Fine Arts, Yeabsera held multiple solo and group shows in Indianapolis including a group show at Newfields. Additionally, she was one of 10 Black woman artists named as an Emerging Visionary Artist by Shea Moisture.