Dereje Shiferaw, born in Asmara in 1976, is a self-taught artist who has dedicated over 25 years to his craft as a full-time artist based in Ethiopia. His work, which often incorporates twisted lines, dynamic forms, and vivid colour, is deeply personal, aiming not to replicate what the eye sees, but to express his profound emotions and inner reflections on a subject. Texture and shape are central elements in his artistic expression. Over the years, Dereje's art has been widely exhibited in both South Africa and Ethiopia. In 2022, he held a solo exhibition titled Obliterated Childhood at Christine X Art Gallery in Malta. The following year, in 2023, he was part of a contemporary African group show curated by Ghanaian Dr. Bernard Akoi Jackson at Spazju Kreattiv, also in Malta.