Addis Eyes in New York

A Solo Street Photography Exhibition by Sehin Tewabe

In Addis Eyes in New York, photographer Sehin Tewabe (b. 1997) presents a body of work created during her time as the sole recipient of the Women Street Photographers Artist Residency in New York City in March 2025. Selected from over 150 international applicants, she spent 10 days photographing the streets of New York. These photographs were first exhibited in New York and are now being shown in her home city, Addis Ababa.

Known for her intuitive and emotive approach, Sehin has always viewed photography as a language she speaks without words—especially through candid, overlooked moments that hold quiet beauty and truth. She first picked up a camera as a child, often documenting family life as the youngest in the household. What began as a familial role became a deeper exploration of people, place, and memory. Her work evolved alongside her—shaped by her surroundings, peers, and the artists she admired. That foundation remains central to her process today: rooted in the everyday, focused on moments often ignored, and guided by instinct.

The New York residency offered Sehin a space to challenge her craft, expand her perspective, and confront herself. Without knowing exactly what to expect, she embraced the chance to test her practice against a new city, unfamiliar weather, and a different photographic culture. Though the program was intense—with long days of walking, shooting, editing, and constant feedback—Sehin met it head-on. She navigated early mornings, cold weather, and the pressure of producing a solo exhibition in just ten days. The experience demanded focus, flexibility, and resilience, which taught her discipline, direction, and vulnerability.

What Sehin found in New York was a chaotic visual rhythm, unlike anything she had experienced before. In Ethiopia, street photography is difficult—often unwelcome or misunderstood, especially for women. In contrast, New York was full of possibility, but it came with its own set of challenges: fast-moving crowds, cold and rainy days, the need for closer physical proximity to subjects, and a shift in style—from her usual focus on light & shadow and single subjects to more layered, compositionally complex images.

The resulting photographs reflect the city as she experienced it—through instinct, observation, and curiosity. She was especially drawn to children, older individuals, expressive gestures, and moments that felt surreal or uncanny. As her work developed, her mentors and curators began to notice a thematic thread: a visual diary of someone trying to make sense of a place by responding to what moved her.

Sehin’s photographs carry a perspective that feels both immersed and slightly apart. While her vision is fresh, it also feels grounded—evidence of how quickly she adapted to the environment. Recurring motifs, gestures, and symbolic references to the city give the series a cohesive and resonant voice.More than a series of images, the residency marked a significant moment in Sehin’s development as a photographer, artist, and gallery owner. In addition to the daily fieldwork, the program included mentorship, public presentations, and in-depth conversations about creative practice, career building, and representation. This marked a turning point in her practice, shaping a renewed sense of direction, confidence, and creative purpose.

Sehin hopes this work encourages a deeper conversation about how photography is practiced, understood, and valued in Ethiopia, where taking photos in public often comes with real challenges. She sees this project as an act of persistence—a reminder that photography can do more than document. It can connect, shift how we see, and carry stories beyond borders.

Sehin Tewabe

Sehin Tewabe is an Ethiopian photographer and Art Entrepreneur based in Addis Ababa. Though she studied accounting, her creative path unfolded through photography, which she began exploring as a teenager—capturing family, friends, and everyday life in Addis with an intuitive eye. Over time, what began as a personal practice evolved into a full-time pursuit of storytelling through portraiture, street, and documentary photography. Her work explores identity, intimacy, and the quiet significance of daily moments, often shaped by natural light and emotional depth.

Alongside her photographic practice, Sehin is the co-founder of Artawi Gallery, an artist-run space in Addis Ababa that has become a vital platform for emerging creatives. Her recent exhibitions include a solo show, “Ashendiye in Lalibela,” held in Addis Ababa in 2022; a group exhibition as part of Aratwi Gallery’s debut street photography launch in 2023; “Ethiopia in Focused,” an international duo exhibition held in Cologne, Germany in 2023; “Beyond Borders: Lamu, Harar, and Stone Connected,” a cross-cultural exhibition shown in both Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Stone Town, Zanzibar in 2025; and a solo show in New York in 2025, presented as part of the Women’s Street Photography Residency Program.

Sehin’s work continues to bridge visual storytelling with community-building, fostering space for meaningful artistic exchange. Her recent work, created during the residency, continues to reflect her commitment to visual storytelling rooted in observation, cultural memory, and care.