Austin Artist Betelhem Makonnen, Who Explored Time and Place, Dies at 53
Betelhem "Bete" Makonnen, a renowned artist from Austin known for her focus on themes like memory, place, and time, sadly passed away on July 15, 2026. She was originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, born on July 26, 1972, and moved to the U.S. when she was just 10. Bete earned her BA from UT Austin and later her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She taught part-time at SAIC, helped organize the Addis Video Art Festival, and co-founded both ICOSA and the Black Mountain Project. Her collaborations included the Fusebox Festival and The Contemporary Austin. A memorial service is scheduled for August 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Austin; RSVPs can be sent to +1 512-527-4681.
Key facts
- Betelhem Makonnen died on July 15, 2026.
- She was born on July 26, 1972, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- She immigrated to the United States at age 10, living in California and Texas.
- She held an MFA from SAIC and a BA from UT Austin.
- She co-founded ICOSA and Black Mountain Project in Austin.
- Her artworks often replaced country names with "Here" and used clocks with "Now".
- She mentored at The Contemporary Austin and was part of the Crit Group.
- A memorial celebration will be held August 29, 2026, in Austin.
- RSVP for the celebration is +1 512-527-4681.
Entities
Artists
- Betelhem "Bete" Makonnen
- Tammie Rubin
- Adrian Aguilera
- Captain Makonnen Berhe
- Demeketch Aliyu
- Michael Barnes
Institutions
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
- UT Austin
- Addis Video Art Festival
- ICOSA
- Black Mountain Project
- Fusebox Festival
- Artpace
- Women & their Work
- Visual Arts Center at the University of Texas Austin
- George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
- The Contemporary Austin
Locations
- Addis Ababa
- Ethiopia
- California
- Texas
- United States
- Austin
- Chicago