Born in Ethiopia in 1968, Etiyé Dimma Poulsen lost her mother at a young age and was eventually adopted in Denmark. Without formal artistic training, Etiyé pursued art history before embarking on her journey as a sculptor. Using metal wire to form her subjects’ basic structures, she sculpts fine clay over them, a process that remains flexible and open to change. The final touch is baking the figures, where fire becomes a crucial part of the creative process. The heat introduces cracks and imperfections, adding to the raw authenticity and fragility of her work.
Although inspired by African culture, Etiyé avoids labeling her creations as “African art.” Her primary focus is on human figures, especially women, capturing their beauty, dignity, and vulnerability through minimalist details and textured surfaces. Her works convey deep emotions with their elongated forms, natural pigments, and expressive postures, touching viewers with their profound humanity.