Artist Overview

You can find out more about each of the featured artists in the biographies below.

A light moment with Dominic at his studio.

Dominic Benhura

Dominic is one of the foremost sculptors in Zimbabwe, if not the world. He was born in 1968 and starting sculpting at the age of 13. His sculptures explore humanitarian themes, family values and the delight of the natural world. In particular, his joyful representations of mothers and children are his signature pieces.

Dominic has patrons around the world, from world leaders to large multi-national companies. In 2006 he presented a sculpture to Nelson Mandela for his office in Johannesburg and he was also commissioned to produce a work for the United Nations Development Programme in Zimbabwe. His pieces are also in major art galleries and collections around the world, and you can even see one of his sculptures in the arrivals hall of Harare International Airport.

As well as being an extremely skilled sculptor, Dominic is also very committed to encouraging and mentoring a new generation of sculptors. He shares his workshop in Harare with up and coming artists, giving them a stable place to work, providing stone and tuition as required.

David White

David is one of the up-and-coming sculptors in Zimbabwe. He was born in 1987 and began sculpting in 2006 when he moved from Chiweshe to Harare. Despite his young age he has already made an impact with his signature ladies heads.

Dominic sought him out after seeing one of his pieces. When they met they clicked immediately and as a result David came to work permanently at Dominic's studio. Dominic has been so impressed by the young sculptor creating his own work rather than copying the work and ideas of others.

Davids pieces are extremely intricate and take amazing amounts of skill and patience to complete. As he works in a variety of colourful hard stone, his sculptures have an added dimension with the beauty of the rock shining through.

David with his amazing smile and one of his signature pieces.

Tendai with one of his bird sculptures at sunrise.

Tendai Mutinhima

Tendai joined Dominic in 2001 to learn the art of sculpting and has remained there ever since. He was born in 1982 and is married with two children. He draws his inspiration from his family and his surroundings. His signature pieces are his birds, at which he is one of the best in the country, but he also sculpts figures and busts.

He sculpts using a variety of stone, but as with many of the serious sculptors his preference is for Springstone. He very much enjoys working with all the other talented sculptors at Dominic's and continues to learn and improve his work. We loved his bird sculptures the moment we saw them and are extremely happy to bring him on board as one of our featured sculptors.

Taurai Maisiri

Taurai is one of the foremost animal sculptors in the world and his buffalo are probably the best anywhere. He was born in 1959 and started sculpting in 1982 under the tutorship of Lameck Zano. Over time his style has developed but his key areas are animals and particularly those with hooves.

Taurai has sold his sculptures internationally but one of his best sales was of an animal sculpture to the President and First Lady of Zimbabwe in 2001. If you examine Taurai's sculptures closely you will see the amazing amount of detail and skill that has gone into creating these stunning works of art.

As an elder statesman of Zimbabwean sculptors Taurai also teaches his art to young students from his base in Chitungwiza. He is a very humble man and a delight to converse with about most topics under the sun.

Sylvester Mubayi

Sylvester is one of the most respected sculptors in Zimbabwe, born in 1942. He is termed as belonging to the 1st generation who rediscovered the ancient art of shona carving in the 1960's, and was one of the founder members of Tengenenge.

In the 1980's he was referred to as one of the 3 best sculptors alive following the death of Henry Moore, and in the early 1990's he was identified by the Guardian newspaper as one of the top 10 sculptors in the world. His work is in many major collections around the world, including several pieces that are in the permanent collection of the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe.

He has always focussed on the spiritual world with clean and simple lines. Many of his sculptures depict stylised human and spirit figures, all having a sense of another world. We are delighted to offer some of his sculptures here.

Sylvester has been chosen as one of the Zimbabwean artists to represent Zimbabwe in the the 2017 International Venice Biennale.

Valentine Magutsa

Valentine was born in 1975 and grew up in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. From a young age he was fascinated by the landscape he grew up in, and these scenes are frequently represented in his work.

Valentine studied art between 1995 and 1998, and then taught art in both Chipinge and Bulawayo before becoming a full time artist in 2005. He has developed a style that is very recognisable and unique.

Sadly Valentine has developed rheumatoid arthritis and is no longer able to paint. His pictures we have for sale here are amongst the last available on the market. We all wish him well and hope for a miraculous recovery so he can resume his artistic career!