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Michael Alemayehu

@mickey__arts

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followers

414

following

Self-Taught Artist 🎨
Realism Portraits and Wildlife
Contact: [email protected]

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Ethiopian Farmer Realistic Colour/Pencil Portrait ✍️✍️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#realism #drawing #art #portrait #africapeople #arts_gallery #artstagram #arty #art_conquest #blackartistspace #arts_moonlight #artist_features #drawing_expression #art_insanely #artrealism #pencilsacademy #sharingart #blackart #ethiopia #ethiopian #hyperrealism #artistuniversity #illustratenow by @mickey__arts

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4 years ago

Mother’s Love Drawing ✍️✍️

This drawing is inspired the ‘Mother’s Love’ song by Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. The drawing itself is a memory I have with my mom when she was making me breakfast. Although I could’ve shown my mom showing her love through something more dramatic, I wanted to show that her love is shown even in the everyday things like making me breakfast and pouring my tea before hers.

#fypシ #ethiopianart #realism by @mickey__arts

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a year ago

Realistic Colour/Pencil Portrait of Woman of Hamer Tribe, Ethiopia ✍️✍️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#realism #drawing #art #portrait #africapeople #arts_gallery #artstagram #arty #art_conquest #blackartistspace #arts_moonlight #artist_features #drawing_expression #art_insanely #artrealism #pencilsacademy #sharingart #blackart #ethiopia #ethiopian #hyperrealism #artistuniversity #illustratenow #ethiopian_culture @dopeblackart @worldofartandmodel @pancakesandbooze @ourartwrld @hypeart by @mickey__arts

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4 years ago

Highlighting our artist of the day from ART COMP 2026!

Michael Alemayehu
Hands of the Soil
Coloured Pencil on Bristol Paper
11" x 14"

See a piece you love? Vote for it through the link in our bio. Or come experience each piece in person, gallery spaces are open daily 10 am - 9 pm!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s artist highlight! by @mickey__arts

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2 months ago

Some artists master realism. Others use it to tell stories that deserve to be remembered. Michael Alemayehu does both.

Entirely self-taught, Michael transforms graphite and coloured pencils into breathtaking portraits that celebrate emotion, culture, memory, and identity. His work is so detailed it often leaves viewers wondering if they're looking at a photograph—but it's the meaning behind every drawing that truly stays with you.

From his journey as an artist from Ethiopia to Toronto to his unwavering dedication to mastering his craft, Michael reminds us that talent grows through patience, consistency, and showing up—even when no one is watching.

In our latest interview, he shares:
✨ How he taught himself hyperrealism from scratch
✨ Why cultural storytelling is at the heart of his work
✨ The patience behind every layer of graphite and coloured pencil
✨ His advice for artists still searching for their creative voice

Read the full interview through the link in our bio. 🔗

@mickey__arts
Comment 'INTERVIEW' below

#ArtsToHeartsProject #ArtistInterview #Hyperrealism #ColoredPencilArt #GraphiteArt by @mickey__arts

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3 months ago

At first glance, you might think you’re looking at a photograph.

Then you look closer.

And closer.

And suddenly you realize every detail, every shadow, every expression, every texture was created with nothing more than graphite and coloured pencils on paper.

That is the power of Michael Alemayehu’s work.

A selected artist in our first-ever *Artist of the Year Book*, Michael is a self-taught Ethiopian artist whose extraordinary portraits challenge our assumptions about what drawing can achieve. Without formal training or art school, he developed a level of realism through years of dedication, curiosity, and relentless practice.

But what stayed with us most wasn’t just the technical mastery.

Through his portraits, Michael seeks to represent Africa with dignity, beauty, strength, and authenticity. His work celebrates people, culture, and identity while challenging incomplete narratives that too often define how the continent is seen.

Working exclusively with graphite and coloured pencils, he creates portraits that feel deeply human—capturing not only likeness, but emotion, presence, and respect for every subject he draws.

✨ In our latest artist interview, Michael shares his journey as a self-taught artist, his commitment to representing Africa through art, and the moments that remind him why his work matters.

Read the full interview through the link in bio.

Congratulations, @mickey__arts 💙

#ArtistOfTheYearBook #MichaelAlemayehu #ArtistInterview #GraphiteDrawing #ColoredPencilArt PortraitDrawing Hyperrealism ContemporaryArt AfricanArtist EthiopianArtist RealismArt ArtistsToWatch ArtsToHeartsProject VisualArt DrawingArtist by @mickey__arts

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4 months ago

Mickey Arts is now live! If you appreciate fine detail and colour in your art, check out www.mickey arts.com taken in Toronto, Ontario by @mickey__arts

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7 months ago

Hi friends — excited to share that my work is officially published in the book Artist of the Year 2025 by @artstoheartsproject ! It’s an honor to be featured alongside so many talented artists. taken in Toronto, Ontario by @mickey__arts

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8 months ago

Had a great time participating in Everyday Monuments, a Black History Month juried exhibition celebrating the beauty, joy, creativity, and resilience found in Black communities. taken in Neilson Park Creative Centre by @mickey__arts

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8 months ago

Mother’s Love Drawing ✍️✍️

This drawing is inspired the ‘Mother’s Love’ song by Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. The drawing itself is a memory I have with my mom when she was making me breakfast. Although I could’ve shown my mom showing her love through something more dramatic, I wanted to show that her love is shown even in the everyday things like making me breakfast and pouring my tea before hers.

#fypシ #ethiopianart #realism by @mickey__arts

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a year ago

Unity Through the Arts 🎭 : Opening Reception

#ethiopianart #arty #drawing_expression #toronto #robertmclaughlingallery by @mickey__arts

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a year ago

Meet Yuki, Pearl, Micheal, and Viktoriya, four incredible artists from our Breaking Ground exhibition!!

This is just a glimpse, swipe to explore their stories, their art, and what Breaking Ground means to them.

Want to see their full pieces in person? Visit our Breaking Ground Exhibition from July 28th – August 23rd @yukitam_ @pearl.a.sequeira @mickey__arts @aquabrushandglass by @mickey__arts

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a year ago