Meet Beniam Yetbarek, a gifted photographer, videographer, director, and filmmaker with a passion for capturing powerful portraits and documentaries. His creative approach merges writing, storytelling, educational activism, historical research, and self-discovery to inspire and motivate viewers to find their authentic purpose. Raised by a single mother in Seattle, Beniam turned to photography as a therapeutic outlet and a way to raise awareness about the genocide affecting his extended family in Tigray, Ethiopia. This passion eventually evolved into a broader exploration of various media to empower communities, leveraging his expertise in Adobe software to bring his artistic visions to life.

Beniam stopped by The Day With Trae, hosted this week by Besa Gordon, to discuss the Art Walk at KOLORS and his activist work through imagery. During the show, he shared insights into how his creative journey evolved from personal therapy to powerful advocacy and community engagement. His art has been showcased in galleries worldwide, including in Paris, Washington, DC, Portland, and Chicago, and has been featured by prominent media outlets such as Africa News, BBC, Fox13 Seattle, Converge Media, and Komo News. Recognized for his activism, Beniam's most recent accolade is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community, Equity, and Social Justice award from Washington State University.