Alitash Kebede
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From a young age, her father, Kenteba Kebede Abozin, opened her eyes to the world of art through the photography in LIFE magazine. Having exposure to the work of artists such as Walker Evans, Gordon Parks, and Dorothea Lange later inspired her to pursue a career in art.
Subsequent to the completion of her college studies in the United States, Alitash pursued a career in another area of the arts, music. In the late 70’s she worked at the legendary record label, Atlantic Records, where the artist roster included Aretha Franklin, Sonny Rollins, the Rolling Stones, and Peter Tosh. In the early 80’s, she was Director of Public Affairs at KJLH radio in Los Angeles, owned by Stevie Wonder. Encouraged by the radio station’s then Vice President and General Manager, Don Mizell, she established the Radio Vision Gallery for KJLH, which exhibited the work of emerging Southern California artists.
After her experience with the Radio Vision Gallery, Alitash became determined to live her life working with artists. By 1984, with the help of mentors such as the prominent artist and art historian Dr. Samella Lewis and art dealer Mitzi Landau (who, along with her husband Felix Landau, established one of the first galleries in Los Angeles in the late 40s), Alitash had established herself as a private art dealer in Los Angeles. She forged lifelong relationships with the artists she exhibited, including fellow Ethiopian Skunder Boghossian, as well as pioneers and masters of modern African American art, Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence.
In 1994, Alitash opened her first public gallery, which gained a reputation for being a source for first time and seasoned collectors. New York artists such as Al Loving, Ed Clark, Emilio Cruz, Herbert Gentry, Richard Mayhew and Nanette Carter, among others, had their first solo exhibitions in Los Angeles at her gallery.
Alitash has had the pleasure of working with a diverse assortment of clients ranging from museums and important cultural institutions to corporate clients such as 20th Century Fox, Xerox, HarperCollins Publishers, Warner Bros. Records, and Burrell Communications; as well as the US Department of State Art Embassies Program; and notable private clients.
In 2003, after many years of collecting, Alitash’s collection traveled to various institutions throughout the United States and abroad, managed by Landau Traveling Exhibitions. On June 30, 2008, a selection of work from this collection will be offered at Christie’s New York. Christie’s selected Jacob Lawrence’s Flight #1 (Walking in the Rain) for the cover of the catalogue. Other notable works by Romare Bearden, Alma Thomas, Norman Lewis, Bob Thompson, Emilio Cruz, Richard Mayhew, Betye Saar and others will be offered.
In 2004 Kebede re-opened her gallery in the ART 170 building on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles with the exhibition, "Tribute To A Friendship: Romare Bearden and Hebert Gentry." After operating the gallery for 7 years, Kebede has now returned to being a private art dealer and consultant.
Alitash’s involvement with visual arts extends beyond the walls of her gallery. She is a founding member of the Photographic Arts Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and a member of ArtTable. Her interest in exposing young people to the arts led to her involvement with the Watts Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles, where she is a member of the board. Working with artists and museums, she develops art programs for children.
