A renowned artist of international stature, Lulseged Retta has been an important figure in the effort to bring Ethiopian art to a world stage. Educated both in his native country and in St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Russia, Lulsegad has been able to imbue his work — while focused exclusively on Ethiopian imagery — with a global understanding of the human condition. He has been shown and is collected throughout the world (in Japan, China, Switzerland, Russia, Egypt, France, to name a few.) by enthusiasts who respond to their beauty, as well as their philosophical basis.

As a young artist, Lulseged's early talent was encouraged and influenced by his teachers and creative contemporaries. His personality and his obvious ability drew people to him, and his warmth and generosity rewarded their interest. His graduate work in Russia brought him great success as a student and broadened his understanding of the universal themes that direct his work today.

Another profound influence on this artist was the time he spent producing posters for a government entity — the Ethiopian Tourist Trading Enterprise (ETTE) — dedicated to the dissemination of information about Ethiopia throughout the world. These posters were highly successful and brought exposure to Lulseged, as well as discipline that would serve him when he returned to his personal work.

Today, Lulseged lives and works in Ethiopia as a studio artist, designer, and consultant.