The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art opened 'Tsedaye Makonnen — Sanctuary' on December 13, 2024, featuring towering light sculptures by Ethiopian American artist Tsedaye Makonnen. The central installation, 'Senait & Nahom: The Peacemaker & The Comforter', comprises 50 illuminated boxes named for individuals lost to violence, transforming grief into remembrance and hope. The exhibition also includes works from the museum's permanent collection by artists such as Alexander 'Skunder' Boghossian and Aïda Muluneh, and aligns with the museum's mission of cross-cultural understanding.
This exhibition matters because it centers Black lives, sisterhood, and resilience within a major national institution, countering underrepresentation in the arts. It also highlights Makonnen's unique practice as a Black feminist artist, doula, and daughter of Ethiopian immigrants, and underscores the museum's commitment to community engagement. The show coincides with the tenure of newly appointed deputy director Heran Sereke-Brhan, adding personal and institutional significance.