Guenet Abraham

Guenet Abraham is a Professor of Visual Arts in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she teaches graphic design, typography, and visual communication. She is also affiliated with the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture (CADVC). Abraham has been actively engaged in international teaching and research through two consecutive Fulbright Core Fellowships (2017–2019), during which she taught at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Her research focuses on Ethiopia’s 'Red Terror' period under the Derg regime (1974–1992), exploring political violence, displacement, and societal trauma through a multimedia lens. This work will culminate in an upcoming exhibition titled Labyrinth of Memory at CADVC. Abraham aims to use artistic expression to foster public dialogue on historical trauma, believing artists play a crucial role in interpreting sensitive historical events. Her fieldwork has taken her across Ethiopia, including the Danakil Depression and sulfur lake in Dalol, to gather imagery and sound for her project.

Abraham began her career as a book designer in New York City, working with major publishers such as Pantheon Books, Random House, and W.W. Norton. She holds an MFA from the Yale School of Art. Her professional design work has been recognized by AIGA, AAM, UCDA, and she was shortlisted for the Paris Photo – Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards. She maintains an active design practice, consulting and designing books for publishers.

Her teaching in Ethiopia has involved developing pilot courses in graphic design and typography to help establish a formal curriculum. Despite challenges such as limited technological resources, her students have shown exceptional engagement and progress. She mentors both students and faculty, with the goal of creating a sustainable design education program in Ethiopia.

• Fulbright Core Fellowship for Teaching and Research in Ethiopia (2017–2018)
• Fulbright Core Fellowship for Teaching and Research in Ethiopia (2018–2019)
• Recognition by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
• Recognition by the American Association of Museums (AAM)
• Recognition by the University and College Designers Association (UCDA)
• Shortlisted for the Paris Photo – Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards

Abraham advises on curriculum development and faculty mentoring in Ethiopia through her Fulbright appointments. She has secured support for two years of international research and teaching, enabling long-term impact on design education in Ethiopia. Her multimedia research project is grant-funded through the Fulbright program and will be hosted at UMBC’s Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture.

She is closely associated with the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture (CADVC) at UMBC, where her multimedia exhibition Labyrinth of Memory will be presented. In Ethiopia, she collaborates with faculty and students at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, Addis Ababa University, contributing to the development of a new graphic design program. Her work bridges academic, artistic, and community-based practices across continents.