Ten young artists from Addis Ababa University’s Alle School of Fine Arts have translated themes of health, rights and personal choice into original paintings at an exhibition opened in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.
Titled “Painting Choices,” the exhibition was organised by UNFPA Ethiopia in collaboration with Laphto Contemporary Art Gallery to mark International Youth Day 2026. The exhibition will remain open to the public through Aug. 19 at Laphto Contemporary Art Gallery, located on the first floor of Laphto Mall.
Opening the exhibition, Taiwo Oluyomi, Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Representative of UNFPA Ethiopia, said the initiative sought to give young artists the opportunity to interpret the organisation’s mandate through their own perspectives.
“Today is for you,” Oluyomi told the participating artists, thanking them for transforming issues linked to health, rights and choices into visual art.
He said the idea for the exhibition followed a visit earlier this year by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Diene Keita to Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa. During the visit, Keita witnessed the experiences of women receiving care and observed how art had captured their resilience and dignity in ways that words could not fully convey.
“She left with a recommendation: that we do the same for UNFPA’s work—that we hand our mandate to artists and let them paint it,” Oluyomi said.
The participating artists were asked to explore UNFPA’s thematic areas, including sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, youth development, access to comprehensive services and the use of data for development. Their works, Oluyomi said, went beyond simply illustrating UNFPA’s programmes.
“These young artists did not simply illustrate our mandate. They interrogated it. They questioned it. They made it personal,” he said.
According to Oluyomi, the paintings represent individual perspectives and statements on development issues, rather than conventional communication materials.
“The paintings you will see today are not illustrations— they are perspectives. Statements. Conversations waiting to happen,” he said.
He added that art should be considered a central component of development communication, rather than merely a form of decoration.
“Data tells you what is happening—but art makes you feel why it matters,” Oluyomi said.
The opening ceremony included remarks from UNFPA Ethiopia leadership, a presentation by the jury and an award ceremony recognising the top three works.
The exhibition also highlights the role of young people in shaping public conversations around social and development issues. Marking International Youth Day, Oluyomi said the initiative demonstrated that young people were already contributing important stories and ideas, rather than simply representing the future.
“Young people are not just the future. They are telling the most important stories, right now,” he said.
The exhibition is open daily until Aug. 19 at Laphto Contemporary Art Gallery.
