Join us at the OAG’s Galerie Annexe on August 13 for the opening reception of ሀሌታ | Haleta: The Threshold of Being.
Evening festivities will include refreshments and speeches.
5:30 PM – Doors Open
6 PM – Speeches (level 1)
6:20 PM – Reception in Galerie Annexe (level 1)
ሀሌታ | Haleta: The Threshold of Being
August 8, 2026 – November 8, 2026
Galerie Annexe | Level 1
Have you ever experienced a feeling so intensely, yet struggled to find the right word for it?
The Amharic word Haleta originated from an ancient language spoken in Ethiopia called Ge’ez. It describes a state of becoming that exists just before the first step, the unseen threshold where possibility, hope, memory, and transformation converge. More than a beginning, it is the subtle moment right before something comes into being.
Every language holds words for emotions, memories, and human experiences that have no direct translation. Each participating artist selected a word that holds personal significance, whether rooted in their own cultural background, heritage, language, or inspired by a concept from another culture that resonates deeply with them.
Curator: Danayit Ephrem Zeru
Artists: Maria Abebe, Yasmeen Boudabés, Aurelie S. Kadjo, Kouka, Natasha Lalani, Legacy, Mariya, Meraf, Miiche, Jayda Murray, Rika, Tolu, Vafi, Yomi
This exhibition is developed through the Curatorial Fellowship Program, designed to support the career growth of emerging Black Canadian curators. This innovative program is a partnership between the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), the Ottawa Black Art Kollective (OBAK) and the National Gallery of Canada (NGC).
Image: Meraf, Ayzosh (Amharic), 2026, acrylic on canvas, 55.88 x 71.12 cm