Hailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Helen Zeray has spent the past few years in Tel Aviv, navigating both personal and artistic transformation. Her work explores the concept of time through nature, particularly the fleeting beauty of flowers and plants in bloom. The delicate balance between growth and decay is central to her artistic approach as each bloom hints at its inevitable withering. Once focused on the vast, structured patterns of agricultural landscapes, Zeray now turns her lens to the intricate, fleeting details of nature – its textures, patterns, and colours.

Through collages that blend acrylic painting with photography, Zeray creates a trompe-l’oeil effect, challenging the boundary between reality and illusion. Her work offers a visual commentary on time, capturing its transient nature while simultaneously preserving ephemeral moments. She invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions, reminding them that not all is as it seems. 

Helen’s work has been featured in exhibitions in Ethiopia and internationally. She has held solo exhibitions, including View from Beyond (2024) at Jerusalem House of Quality, Jerusalem, and Idiomatic Expression (2022) at Hager Fiker Gallery, Addis Ababa. Her work has also been featured in group exhibitions, such as An Artist Makes a Story (2024) at Ben Ami Gallery, Tel Aviv, and East Africa Art and Culture (2022) to name a few.