My name is Measu Bellay. I was born to Ethiopian parents and raised in Maryland. My journey as an artist began when my father passed down his camera to me. I was a relatively shy kid, but with a camera in my hands, I felt invincible. With my camera, I could be as curious, weird, and imaginative as my heart desired.

When I got to college, I pursued economics with the hopes of saving the world, lol. While society often views quantitative data as objective truths, I discovered that statistics not only harbor biases, but also demand more nuanced and contextual narratives to be truly understood. I left a budding career in economics to embark on a lifelong journey in becoming a storyteller.

Along the way, I have become an Art Director, a commercial photographer, a leather smith, a DJ, an archivist, and a good friend.

I've had the privilege of working with brands like Apple and The Washington Post, and graduated as top student from The One School. During the pandemic, I created "Covid Compliance," a photo story that went viral on TikTok and exhibited in galleries, opening doors I never thought possible.

When I'm not creating, you might find me swimming, crafting leather notebooks, hiking, spinning records, or gardening with my grandmother.

Contact: measubellay@gmail.com

Clients & Publications : Apple, Time Magazine, Scholastic Magazine, Washington Post, The Washington Area Bikers Association

Awards: Young Ones 2025 Shortlist, 2024 One School Top Student, 2021 Flickr x SmugMug Photo Finalist

Access my resume here.