Komarai Karhu
Courtesy of Zimbabwe Sculpture Association
David Mashoko
Courtesy of Zimbabwe Sculpture Association
Christopher Tigere Tandi
Courtesy of Zimbabwe Sculpture Association
Victor Masafi
Courtesy of Zimbabwe Sculpture Association
Fair Makunde
Gift Bangura
Trymore Fernando
Kennedy Mwashusha
Kennedy Mwashusha was born in Zimbabwe on November 5th, 1967. In 1987, he moved to South Africa in search of better opportunities. From 1987 to 2004, everything seemed to be going well for him. However, in 2004, he struggled to find a job and was left with no choice but to take to the streets.
It was during this time that he stumbled upon a unique opportunity in the wire business. A chance encounter with a client who was unhappy with the wrong order led Kennedy to assist the workers on the project. Through this experience, he found his way into the world of wire art.
Kennedy has developed his own artistic style and techniques in wire work, with a focus on precision and anatomy to create pieces that are as realistic as possible. He draws inspiration mainly from nature and his favorite project to date is the Caspir Project, which is currently being exhibited at the Rendon Gallery in L.A. Kennedy acknowledges that art is not an overnight thing, but rather a process that requires patience, dedication, and skill. He credits other artists, such as Floyd Zambuko, for teaching him the wire works.
Despite his success, Kennedy notes that there are no specific rituals he follows when working on his art, except for a cup of coffee that helps with his concentration. He also recognizes the hard work and dedication that goes into creating a finished product, something that is often taken for granted by clients who want to underpay for an artist's services.
Kennedy's success in the wire art industry is a testament to his resilience and determination to succeed. He has faced numerous challenges along the way, having to learn a completely new skill set, but he persevered nonetheless. His passion for wire art has kept him going, and he continues to create breathtaking pieces that are admired by many.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Kennedy is also committed to giving back to his community. He often uses his art to raise awareness about social issues and to support various charities. He believes that art has the power to bring people together and make a positive impact on the world.
Percy Kuta
Percy Kuta: A Zimbabwean Sculptor Inspired by Nature Percy Kuta has been a sculptor for over 20 years and currently resides in the well-known artist community of Tengenenge, Zimbabwe.He grew up in a family of six, with four brothers and two twin sisters. For over two decades, he has breathed life into serpentine rock, weaving it into divine masterpieces .
Kuta's exceptional talent has garnered him many accolades over the years, including the “Most Promising Prominent Artist” award under the Africa Artistic banner in 2017. His works have also been displayed in galleries throughout Europe and the United States.
Percy feels incredibly grateful for his wife, Takudzwa Butizha, and their beautiful family. Their relationship is founded on trust, respect, and mutual admiration, and has withstood the test of time. As devoted parents, they cherish their four children and enjoy spending quality time together, like going on nature walks. Percy is a hands-on father who encourages and supports his children in all their pursuits.
Born on February 21, 1982 in Guruve, Kuta's passion for art began at a young age. Despite his natural intelligence and academic abilities, he found his true calling as an artist. Though he faced discouragement from his parents, his brother – also an artist – was a constant source of support and encouragement.
Kuta's interests lie in abstract sculpture, and he draws inspiration from natural forms and shapes. His pieces often embody universal philosophical or spiritual themes, such as transformation, containment, infinity, and the cyclical nature of life. He focuses on the spaces between the stones as much as the stones themselves to create his unique and inspiring works of art.
Zenzo Muzamba
Zenzo Muzamba, a native of Zimbabwe, spent most of his youth in an art gallery where his father crafted sculptures. As a child, Zenzo played with sculpting tools and stones, fueling his love and passion for sculpting. Zenzo believes that sculpting by hand helps him maintain a unique touch, and he considers his art akin to his handwriting.
Owls, flowers, and humans are Zenzo's favorite subjects to carve. He finds each of their unique characteristics inspiring and enjoys exploring new ways to creatively depict them. Zenzo was part of the Black Avante Garde, an art group with friends, and participated in exhibitions during his time at the National Gallery.
When looking at a raw stone, Zenzo sees a potential sculpture waiting to be revealed. He begins by removing the unnecessary parts of the stone and envisions the artwork he wants to create, drawing his ideas on paper for future reference.
Zenzo draws inspiration from Pablo Picasso, one of his favorite artists, who taught him to create art that is both lovable and easy to sell. Zenzo also learned that there is nothing to hide in art, so he makes everything he thinks of. Picasso's influence can be seen in Zenzo's approach to his art.
Zenzo's message to his viewers is that everything on earth is beautiful and significant, thus deserving protection and respect. He aims to break stereotypes through his work, such as people's association of owls with witchcraft. When he carves them on stone, people appreciate their beauty.
Cosmas Chifamba
Cosmas Chifamba was born on January 10th, 1976, in Guruve, and his totem is a lion (Mhazi). He comes from a large family of eight siblings, with three brothers who were sculptors, namely Lewis, Ephraim, and Shepherd. Although his brothers left sculpting, Cosmas always had a passion for it. As a child, he enjoyed drawing and molding various creations from clay and different types of soil. He was also inspired by Brighton Sango, a well-known sculptor.
Cosmas specializes in sculpting women, as he believes they play an essential role in society. He creates pieces like "My Loving Mother" and "A Model," showcasing the many things women can achieve. He draws inspiration from his life experiences and the support he received from his parents and community.
Over the years, Cosmas has received recognition for his work. In 2005, he won a consolation prize from the Korean Embassy and other prizes from the Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe. Additionally, the British Ambassador in Zimbabwe and Amina's Gift have purchased several of his "African Ladies" sculptures. Cosmas began sculpting in 1992 while still in school, using the money he earned from his work to pay for his education from 1992-1994.
Kelvin Ferenando
Kelvin Ferenando, born on November 8, 1984 at Norwi Farm, is a sculptor who has been passionate about his craft since 2006. His brother, Christwell Ferenando, a retired sculptor, taught him the art of sculpting while in Europe. Kelvin's inspiration comes from his upbringing in Tengenenge and his community's support.
Kelvin's artwork is typically abstract and he prefers to use serpentine for his sculptures. He has created several pieces, including "Kissing Lovers," which is meant to inspire love and prevent disease in people's homes. Additionally, he values the role of women and mushrooms in society. He has recently begun sculpting "Mushroom Ladies," combining both themes into his work.
Kelvin is a proud father to Belami Ferenando, who resides in Guruve. Although his father passed away when he was young, Kelvin's mother is still alive and has been a constant source of support throughout his career.
Edson Seda
Edson Seda, born in Muzarabani on October 5th, 1977, belongs to the Marunga_Hangaiwa totem and has four children – Lovemore (23), Andrew (19), Edwin (17) and Ngonidzashe (8). His father crafted axes and cooking sticks for the community, while his mother was known for her beautiful pottery. Edson's cousin, Sample Seda, was the first of his family to delve into stone sculpting, and it was he who inspired Edson to pursue it as a profession.
During his school days, Edson would often stay back and draw charts and diagrams for his teachers and was highly skilled at molding clay heads. In 1992, he began stone sculpting at Tengenenge, where his uncle Martin Kafara Seda was also a sculptor. Martin's encouragement and belief in him further motivated Edson to pursue his passion. The works of Bernard Matemera and Tom Blomefield also greatly influenced and inspired Edson on his sculpting journey. In particular, Tom Bloomfield's "shovel art" inspired Edson and convinced him that he could sculpt anything.
Edson specializes in sculpting stone leaves, which he believes symbolize the essence of human life and its importance. He emphasizes that the oxygen we breathe comes from the leaves around us, and his sculptures are identified by leaves with a nose and a mouth to showcase the secrets of nature that God has hidden among us. In his art, he highlights the beauty of love and how it makes life more meaningful. For instance, when buying flowers for a loved one, they feel treasured and valued, and it brings out their expressive side. Edson's incredible artistry earned him a spot representing Tengenenge at an exhibition in 2001 together with Tom Blomefield. In 2005, he won a sculpting third prize courtesy of the Korean Embassy. In 2012 he also went to Netherlands to exhibit his sculpture.Currently, he is teaching his sons Andrew and Edwin the art of stone sculpting.
Angeline Masuku
Meet Angeline Masuku, Master Weaver from the Zulu People of South Africa
Angeline Masuku, a resident of the traditional village of Hlabisa, is an exceptional weaver from the Zulu people in South Africa. At the young age of eight, her aunt taught her how to weave baskets, and it was almost immediately clear to her aunt and various collectors that Angeline had exceptional technical skill. By the age of 18, Angeline had created her own unique basket designs. She began supplying baskets to the African Art Centre in Durban in 1995. Since then, Angeline has attended several trade fairs in the United States, Germany, Italy and Kuwait. However, Santa Fe remains her favorite, as it provided the most recognition.
Zulu basket weaving is a tradition that has been passed down from grandmothers and mothers to daughters for generations. While Angeline's basket weaving is embedded in traditional Zulu culture and she uses the same weaving techniques, materials and natural dyes, her contemporary shapes and bold designs are entirely her own. Angeline uses sustainably harvested Ilala palm wrapped around a core of Ukhasi grass to weave. The palm fronds are colored using natural dyes: boiled leaves of the Umthombothi tree make black, Umnqandane, a grape-like wild plant, gives a light brown color, and to create grey, the grass is soaked for days in water with rusted tin cans.
Angeline works with her daughter Nokukhanya and a group of about 15 siblings and nieces, all of whom have been trained by her. Even though some of them live in far-flung villages, they all come to Angeline's homestead to work.
Luke Mugavazi
Luke Mugavazi is a Zimbabwean stone sculptor who has been carving since 1985. He has a wife, three girls and two boys, and supports them through selling raw stones. He specializes in carving serpentine stone, spring stone, opal stone, leopard rock, and granite rock, producing abstract sculptures such as "Flight to Freedom," "The Rhino of the Year 2000," and "Rozvi Queen." Mugavazi started the Mugavazi Center for stone sculpting in Guruve, Zimbabwe, after discovering spring stones on state land. The center has hosted many artists and buyers from all over the world. Despite facing challenges such as economic downturns and a tragic incident in 2007 that destroyed his house and property, Mugavazi still believes in the value and importance of Zimbabwean stone sculpture.
Josiah Manzi
Josiah Manzi, born in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) in 1933 and part of the Mlanzi totem, is a sculptor with a fascinating story. After training as a builder, Josiah found that the profession did not provide enough income, so he began a search for other work. In 1967, he landed at Gararwe Farm where he met Tom Blomefield and Leman Moses, who were seeking sculptors to employ. Tom challenged Josiah and his brother to craft an axe or hoe, believing that if they could do so, they could sculpt. He agreed to teach them, but only if they created original pieces for six months without copying anyone; otherwise, their contract would be terminated. Josiah quickly proved himself an artist, completing the task in just 44 days.
From then on, Josiah has been sculpting, developing his talent and creating pieces that tell captivating stories. His sculptures are full of life, such as a crocodile with the ability to eat a mother and child trying to call for help, arguing why they called in the first place. Another piece he created was of a man who went to the mountain to look for wild fruits, only to find a talking lizard on his leg, asking why he left his village to come to a mountain without a village. He encouraged his son, Movet, to develop his own designs instead of copying his, to help him find his own creative voice.
Josiah admires the work of Bernard Matemera, Leman Moses and Henry Munyaradzi and has won more than five awards, including the prestigious National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) awards. He dreams of a thriving industry where artists like himself can continue to create freely. At Tengenenge, where Josiah once worked, they can go for more than two months without seeing customers, so the profitability of the industry is crucial for artists to continue pursuing their passion.
Douglas Shawu
A Passionate Sculptor with a Bright Future
Douglas Shawu was born on October 9th, 1984, at Tengenenge farm, and his totem is the elephant. He grew up in a family of six and is the third born. His father worked at Tengenenge as a part-time sculptor, and his mother was a tractor driver at the same farm, also doing sculpting on a part-time basis. Amongst his brothers were the late Felix Shawu and Shupikai Shawu, both sculptors at Tengenenge. Douglas was always good at drawing and used to tell himself that he could also draw stones. In 1988, he decided to join the sculpting industry on a part-time basis, and by 1994, he had developed his skills, taking stone sculpting as a full-time job.
Fascinated by the works of his brother Felix and his friend, the late Bakare Manzi, who had the biggest and tallest bird at Tengenenge, Douglas invested a lot of time analyzing their works and techniques. Bakare Manzi also inspired and taught him how to hold sculpting tools. Douglas has since become a master sculptor who has taught students such as Gibson Mufudzi and Vengai Mufudzi.
Douglas specializes in sculpting heads, with the theme "Day Dreamer," as his heads have a hole through them. The meaning behind "Day Dreamer" is that wherever we are and whatever we are doing, we are always dreaming about our lives and a brighter future, which is poetically represented by the hole in the head. He also sculpts torsos, believing that every human being needs a partner. Douglas sees women as beautiful flowers that one cannot resist testifying to their beauty.
With his hard work and dedication, Douglas has won several awards, including first prize with the Korean Embassy in 2005, second position at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) in 2007, and a trophy and third prize through an American sponsored show that was done at Chitungwiza Arts Centre in 2017. His sculptures are now displayed all over the world, yet he has never been out of the country. Douglas hopes that his clients will take him to their countries so that he can also see his sculptures in their places. He also dreams of having his own sculpting place, where people can specifically locate him as they do business together.
Paul Kuta
A Talented Sculptor and Mbira Player
Paul Kuta, born in Bindura on November 11, 1979, belongs to the Guruve (Pig) totem. He is the eldest of six siblings and is married, but presently has no children. His younger brother, Percy Kuta, is also a sculptor at Tengenenge. Paul discovered his passion for sculpting in 1998 under the guidance of Jack Jonasi at Mudindo. He was drawn to cloud-reading and nature-reading, which led to him receiving visions while growing up.
As a part-time Mbira player, Paul's art is heavily influenced by "Sign Language" and "Palm Art". Each piece he creates bears a message and communicates something deeply meaningful to its audience. Paul's understanding of the importance of body language inspired him to use his hands as a medium of communication, just as one would do with a person who doesn't speak.
Despite his parents' lack of support for his sculpting career, Paul and his brother Percy left home to pursue their passion, eventually settling in Bulawayo in 2002-2003. They held numerous exhibitions at the Bulawayo National Art Gallery. In 2018, Paul received recognition as a Promising Artist when he won a prize at Chitungwiza Arts Center. Throughout his journey, Paul's favorite artists have been Jack Jonasi, Chris Balamu, Themba Balamu, and Chris Kasina.
David Chirisa
Meet David Chirisa: A Wire and Bead Artist from Zimbabwe
David Chirisa was born and raised in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe on February 16, 1991. He discovered his passion for creating intricate designs with wire and beads at a young age and spent countless hours experimenting with different techniques and materials to develop his own unique style. His work is inspired by the vibrant colors and textures of his homeland, as well as the natural beauty of the African landscape. Every piece that David crafts is a true work of art, designed with meticulous attention to detail and a constant drive to create new and exciting pieces that capture the spirit of his beloved homeland. Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of handmade crafts, David Chirisa's wire and bead art is sure to inspire and delight you.
Watson Chirume
Watson Chirume was born on the 3rd of August 1962. He could only attend school up to grade 5 due to financial constraints. In 1980 he was employed at Munjanji Farm as an assistant farm mechanic. Later he was promoted to a store cashier and held that job for 7 years. In 1988 he moved to Tengenenge Farm where he was employed as a tractor driver. It was at Tengenenge that he became intrigued by the sculptures. He had a dream to sculpt elephants. He decided to start sculpting under the guidance of Lovemore Munetsa, eventually becoming a full-time sculptor.
Taylor Nkomo
Taylor Nkomo is a stone sculptor who currently carves in Harare. He is a second generation carver.
Bywell Sango
Born on the 28th of November 1979. Bywell loves art so much and he was born from a sculpting family. Coming from guruve the land of spring stone and serpentines, he has managed to experiment and pass out all his artistic abilities from the age of 8 to the age of 19 years. Now in his more than 20 years sculpting experience, his art has has been received world at large. Clients from USA, China and Middle East to a greater extent like his abstract art. Bywell is now known for sculpting his Abstract cubic Style, which has also become his specialty.
Maudy Muhoni
Maudy is one of the few female carvers. She is from the rural village of Tengenenge in northern Zimbabwe.
Nimrod Phiri
Nimrod is from the village of Tengenenge in northern Zimbabwe.
Douglas Shawa
Douglas is known for working on extremely large carvings. He is from the village of Tengenenge in northern Zimbabwe.
Amali Malola
Amali was an active carver well past the age of 101. He was an enduring presence at Tengenenge for well over a century.
Arthur Fata
Arthur is a well-respected stone carver who works in Ruwa, just outside of Harare, Zimbabwe.
Kilara Malola
Kilara is from the northern Zimbabwe village of Tengenenge.
Kamurai Kavhu
Kamurai is one of the few women carvers from Tengenenge in northern Zimbabwe.
Stabben Masakara
Stabben in an artist from the village of Tengenenge in northern Zimbabwe.
Taguma Mukomberanwa
Taguma learned from the master. He is the youngest son of Nicholas Mukomberanwa. He lives on his father's old farm in Ruwa, Zimbabwe.
Floyd Zambuko
Floyd is a wire and bead artist from Zimbabwe. He is currently living in Johannesburg, South Africa with his family. Many of the wire and bead animals we sell were made by Floyd.
Tawanda Makore
Tawanda is a stone sculptor who lives in Harare, Zimbabwe
Perlagia Mutyavaviri
Perlagia is a stone sculptor from Zimbabwe. She lives outside of Chitungweza, Zimbabwe.
Tendai Mukomberanwa
Tendai is the son of the brilliant 1st generation artist, Nicholas Mukomberanwa.
Gift Bangura
Gift is one of the elders at Tengenenge, the sculpture community in northern Zimbabwe.
Prosper Chiroodza
Prosper is from the northern village of Tengenenge in Zimbabwe.
Michael Kasvince
Michael is a stone sculptor from the village of Tengenenge.
Confidence Zinyeka
Confidence is a very promising young carver from Harare.
Tapfuma Muzamba
Tapfuma is a young stone sculptor from Harare, Zimbabwe. Tapfuma was born August 8, 1993.
Zenzo Muzamba
Zenzo is one of the youngest artists we have. He is a stone sculptor from Harare, Zimbabwe. Zenzo was born August 31, 1995.
Freddy Monya
Freddy is a metal artist from Zimbabwe.
Kgotso Phasa
Kgotso Phasha (Tswana) was born September 9, 1993, in the town of Schweizer-Reneke in the North West province of South Africa. As a teenager, Kgotso took an interest in welding. His mentor encouraged him to begin creating tables and benches using his welded steel bases and South African wood tops. It was immediately clear that he had a gifted eye for design and the proper proportions for furniture. Using responsibly sourced wood from fallen or damaged trees sold by SANParks (South African National Parks), he acquired raw planks to create his special brand of furniture. Kgotso prefers to allow the natural shape of the wood to help determine the design, creating unique pieces that emphasize the live edges. The polishing of the wood allows for the grain to add character to the tabletop. As a way of encouraging the restoration of indigenous forests, Kgotso has supported the replanting of yellowwood trees throughout South Africa. He lives in the Kensington neighborhood of Johannesburg with his mother and two brothers.
Tutani Mgabazi
Tutani is a stone sculptor from Mvurwi, Zimbabwe born on the 3rd of March 1975 in Guruve Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. He is the second child born in a family of eight. From a young age, he has always had an interest in arts and crafts. He began sculpting at the age of 7. During the school holidays, he would spend his time with his uncle Francis Mugavazi a first-generation sculptor. Under the mentorship of his uncle Francis, Tutani was sculpting collectable pieces by the age of 13. Realising that he had an innate talent his family supported Tutani emotionally and financially. At the age of 15years, he later introduced Tom Bloomfield and was exposed to the potential sculpting career. He chose to continue with his high school education but continued sculpting and developing his skills. He refined his craft, such that several of his pieces were displayed at the Zimbabwe art gallery before he completed high school. Soon after high school, Tutani went on to host a 2-man exhibition with his uncle Francis at the Ramabo Gallery. It is from this point that Tutani’s career blew up. He gained recognition in the sculpting community and the global community.
Achievements and exhibitions
1992- Set-up the Gavazi Art Centre
1993- Exhibition at the Ramambo Gallery a Two-man exhibition
2000- Represented Zimbabwe at the 5th International Sculpture Symposium in Obemkirchen, Germany
2002-Invited sculptor at the Spirit in stone SAP Headquarters in Germany.
2002-2003- Participated in the annual Munhumutapa art gallery sculpting workshop in South Africa
2003- Participated in the Shamwari Art Gallery workshop in Oakland, California, In the United States of America.
2004-2005- Participated in the annual Munhumutapa art gallery sculpting workshop in South Africa
2006- Represented Zimbabwe in the International Obemkirchen sculpture symposium
2009- Exhibited at the Earth to Spirit gallery Kingstone Ontario in Canada
2010- Exhibited and participated at the Cornart Workshop Montekarato Italy
2015- Represented Zimbabwe in the International Obemkirchen sculpture symposium
Morgen Jamu
Morgen Jamu is a 2nd Generation sculptor from Zimbabwe. We lives in Mvurwi, Zimbabwe.
Lawrence Manwere
Lawrence is a young artist from Mvurwi, Zimbabwe. He was born on January 3, 1987, at Norowe Farm in Mvurwi town. He was drawn to sculpture at a young age since the farm was close to the Tutani and Mugavazi art centers. He went to Gesta Primary for his primary education. In 1999, he began learning to sculpt from his uncle Musekiwa Musendani, who died a year later. At that point, he abandoned sculpting and focused on his studies. He attended his high school at Crowmines school in Mutoroshanga and spent his weekends helping sculptors mine raw stone for pieces at the Crowine mine, a trade he eventually took up after high school. He later graduated from miner to stone-washer for the sculptor Kapenda Tembo. Kapenda rekindled his passion for sculpting and took on the role of mentor, teaching Lawrence what he knew over the course of two years. Following that, he was welcomed by Benjamin Musendami and served as his assistant for three years. During those three years, Lawrence and Musendami collaborated with other sculptors to establish the Marovadombo art center and, later, the Mvuwri art center, where he now resides.
Lawrence is now a well-established artist, and his work is influenced by his narrative as well as social and cultural events, trends, and animals. He uses his work to tell a story about social injustice, gender inequity, and love. He is popular for his family pieces and big five abstracts.
Enkosi Madzimbire
Enkosi is a stone sculptor from Mvurwi, Zimbabwe.
Try Gora
Try Gora was born on May 23, 1981, into a family of two children. He finished his primary school education at Chipangura Primary School in Guruve when he was 13 years old. This was his first introduction to the world of stone sculpture. He spent a lot of time in the mines at Gavazi Art Centre along the Great Dyke, where he met other artists, notably Kudakwashe kamuni, a third-generation sculptor who encouraged him to start sculpting tiny works. He continued with his education and proceeded to high school from 1994-1998. He then worked as a general hand for Mvuwri Town Council. Try, who was born an artist, returned to the Gavazi art center. He began his career as an assistant to his instructor, Gerald Mugavazi. He was his tutor and taught him the fundamentals of sculpture. A few years later, he launched his solo career at the Artist to Artist art center, where he met Tutani Mugavazi and Benjamin Musendami. Try and Tutani founded the Marovadombo Art Gallery alongside Enkosi Madzivire and Knowledge Manuel, creating a platform for diverse artists to exhibit their work. The center drew artists from all walks of life, necessitating the need for a larger facility. Try and ten other artists founded the Mvuwri Art Centre. Try doubles in the abstract; his work is heavily influenced by nature, particularly trees, aquatic creatures, birds, and animals. His art needs a keen eye to understand its significance.
Chengetai Chinanga
Chengetai Chinanga is a stone sculptor from Mutare.
Macdonald Mutasa
Macdonald Mutasa is a stone sculptor from Mutare.
Isaac Tego
Isaac Tego is a stone sculptor from Mutare
Josiah Chigodora
Josiah Chigodora is a stone sculptor from Mutare.
Gift Chigodora
Gift Chigodora is a stone sculptor from Mutare
Martha Uranda
Martha Uranda is a stone sculptor from Mutare.
Rodrick Musekiwa
Rodrick Musekiwa is a stone sculptor from Nyanga
Chris Mungandayire
Chris Mungandayire is a stone sculptor from Nyanga.
Thomas Chikwiramakomo
Thomas Chikwiramakomo is a stone sculptor from Nyanga.
