Achamyela Debela has traveled a long road — the N.C. Central University art professor was born in Addis Abba, Ethiopia in 1949.

He has lived in Nigeria, Maryland, and Ohio.

His art has been on display in locations like Australia, Britain, Illinois, Sweden, Austria, New York, Ghana and Ethiopia.

And now his work can be seen at NCCU’s Art Museum through October 27.

The exhibit, “Achamyela Delba; A Digital Journey,” is his first at the museum in nearly a decade.

The exhibit, consisting of 26 works, bridge the gap between traditional art and digital painting techniques.

Debela has been working in the digital format for almost two decades.

His work validates the full potential of digitally modified images.

Debela said that he uses traditional approaches, such as acrylic on canvas, with modern approaches, such as photography and scanned and digitized images.

One of the most striking features of Debela’s work is his use of color. The bright purples, greens and yellows arrest the viewer as he walks into the museum.

Debela said that his work balances his reverence for African and Ethiopian culture with his own socio-political concerns.

Jean Pierre, a computer information sophomore, said his favorite painting in the exhibit was “Hunger of the Children.”

“It’s sad to look at because it brings me back to memories of home,” said Pierre, a native of Port au Prince, Haiti. “The painting makes me want to do something or help somebody.”

Museum director Kenneth Rodgers said there has been an overwhelming response to the exhibit from students.

“Students have stayed longer than the traditional 15 minutes and have been amazed by the explosion of color they see before their eyes,” said Rodgers.

Debela earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria in 1972.

He received his Master of Arts in museology and art history from Morgan State University in Baltimore and his Master of Fine Arts in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. In 1990, he received his PhD in computer graphics and art education from Ohio State.

Debela earned two NCCU Teaching Excellence Awards, which were given in 2000 and 2004.

Debela isn’t just an artist –– he is a faculty leader. He was the chair of NCCU’s faculty senate until June 2006.

In 2000, Debela traveled to Ghana and Ethiopia as a Fulbright fellow. While there, he taught at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana and in the School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University.

The NCCU Art Museum is located on Lawson Street across from the Farrison-Newton Communications Building Parking Lot. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.