Artist bio & Statement
Ariette Aklilu Alay Bahta, known commonly as The Habesha Hippie, or simply 'Ari', is the visionary behind Alay Studios. With over six years of experience working in visual arts and 4 years of curatorial practice.
She fuses contemporary expressionism with subjects that include highlights of cultural anthropology to illustrate portrait comp
Ariette Aklilu Alay Bahta, known commonly as The Habesha Hippie, or simply 'Ari', is the visionary behind Alay Studios. With over six years of experience working in visual arts and 4 years of curatorial practice.
She fuses contemporary expressionism with subjects that include highlights of cultural anthropology to illustrate portrait compositions.
Ariette references her multi-diasporic experience of Eritrean & Black American traditions into her creative practice- exploring her multiplicities of self, heritage, and belonging. Through vibrant and monochromatic/color palettes, layered textures, and mixed media techniques.
In her evolving body of work, Ari continues to redefine what identity means to her—fluid, multifaceted, and forever in conversation with the past and present through curatorial practice and digital paintings.
Mix-Media Portfolio
"Awet!" 2022.
Water color & Image Appropriation.
1993 Independence of Eritrea.
"How to get away with murder", 2022.
Watercolor & Image appropriation.
Hailie Selassie's participation in the Civil war between Eritrea & Ethiopian, resulting into an annexation.
"Awet!" Variant 2. 2026
Comic Digital Illustration, Procreate.
Patriotic hues of a expressionistic portrait of an Eritrean women during the Civil war of Ethiopia and Eritrea from 1961-1993.
Chic Gal, 2026.
Procreate, Digital Illustration.
Emphasizes femineity of choosing what makes you feel beautiful inside and outside.
"Just a man & his cats." 2025.
Procreate, digital painting
Fun, expressive portrait of my partner and his 3 cats.
"Ariette; self-portrait", 2025.
Procreate, digital painting.
Double presenting gemini.
Show More
Exhibit Highlights
Invaluable, Kipp Gallery, 2021.
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Head Curator
everythingiseverything, Kipp Gallery, 2022.
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Head Curator.