Batya Sisay is a New York based visual artist and  founder of Banchik- Original Ethiopian Art. 
She was born in Ethiopia in 1984 under the birth name Banchamalk, which in Amharic (the native language of Ethiopia) means ‘With the Help of God’. That same year she and her family moved to Israel during the perilous journey, ‘Operation Moses'. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where she continues to expand her art into new and exciting mediums.Batya began her artistic path in 2013 after traveling back to Ethiopia for the first time since she left. Despite not having a formal training, she was inspired by what she saw and gained early success with exhibits such as “The Power Of Woman”, “Speak Up Culture” and “The Color Line”.
Her drawings are made on graphite and paper. They are mostly black and white, although they occasionally incorporate a touch of color. This is deliberate- using simple mediums, Batya draws particular attention to small details in hopes of faithfully presenting the reality she encountered in her native country.
Batya’s photographs depict both the people and objects of a world that she had so rarely been exposed to as a young black girl growing up in Israel. Her art is created to connect others to this world; one that is often underrepresented, and to an identity that is often overlooked. It a great responsibility, but is one that she is both proud and humbled to carry.Batya is now thrilled to share her love for both her Ethiopian and her Jewish culture with a new audience around the world.