Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
GROWING demand for Zimbabwe’s art collections in overseas galleries and museums is truly remarkable.
Local creatives have made giant strides internationally, captivating audiences with the appeal of their artwork.
Breaking into the global market has instilled hope in many visual artists, who often feel under-appreciated at home.
Innovation and creativity, coupled with collaborations with international galleries, are now yielding positive results for numerous visual artists, many of whom had a successful 2025 season.
Some partnerships are set to continue into 2026.
As a result, hardly a month goes by without local visual artists showcasing their work internationally, where they are celebrated like royalty.
Visual arts encompass various mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, installation and digital arts.
While some art collections have fetched impressive sums at auctions, many of these artists remain largely unrecognised on the streets of Harare.
Numerous calls have been made by arts regulatory leaders, including Raphael Chikukwa, the director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, to encourage locals to support Zimbabwean collections.
Unfortunately, there persists a widespread belief that visual arts are meant solely for the elite — a misconception that needs to be addressed.
Reflecting on the sector’s performance in 2025, Zimbabwe achieved remarkable success in visual arts, from grassroots initiatives to the administration of this vibrant field.
Moffart Takadiwa of Mbare Art Space is undoubtedly one of the most successful creatives in this sector, having toured the world extensively. He opened doors for many when his artwork “Tengwe Farms” was purchased by American rap mogul Jay-Z — a significant endorsement for Zimbabwean art.
Following that triumph five years ago, he remarked that they scored big after years of resilience and persistence.
“The visual market has been growing gradually for many years,” he emphasised in a recent interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
“It’s not like a sudden phenomenon; we have many years of building as a country with institutions like the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, which has worked as an agent of the government in supporting the growth of visual art, including the Shona stone sculpture, which was a world success.”
On the international level, Zimbabwe continues to shine at the International Exhibition of Biennale in Italy.
Often referred to as the “World Cup of Visual Arts,” this prestigious event has featured Zimbabwean artists such as Takadiwa, Gillian Rosselli, Victor Nyakauru, Sekai Machache, Troy Makaza and Kombo Chapfika.
Their participation exemplifies Zimbabwe’s growing presence on the international art stage. Next year, at the 61st International Art Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, five visual artists — Felix Shumba, Eva Raath, Gideon Gomo, Franklyn Dzingai and Pardon Mapondera — will present their works under the theme “Second Nature,” a concept that invites introspection into identity, environment, and the layers of cultural memory.
With the blessings of the Government and other arts regulatory leaders, Zimbabwe is poised to shine overseas once again.
Due diligence was also exercised in the selection process to ensure that Zimbabwe presents the best.
Also, two Zimbabwean visual artists — Pardon Mapondera and Nothando Chiwanga — have touched the hearts of many with their collections currently on display in Dallas, US.
Dubbed “Crossing Lines: Contemporary Voices from Zimbabwe and South Africa,” the group exhibition also features South African artist Lloyd Maluleke.
DHV Artworks, in collaboration with Indibano Art Residency under the leadership of Bukekile Dube, is behind this group exhibition.
According to Dube, the initiative is a Dallas-based programme aimed at bringing contemporary African artists to the United States for 12-week cultural exchange residencies.
The participation of these two Zimbabwean visual artists has been hailed as an eye-opener for the creative sector, which continues to make waves overseas.
“The idea was to create a convergence where people feel comfortable coming together to have conversations and explore ideas concerning our African identity and the Afro-diaspora, so that everyone from the continent can feel at ease and connected,” Dube shared.
The ongoing exhibition features Lloyd Maluleke, Nothando Chiwanga, and Pardon Mapondera. The three artists work across multiple mediums, including painting, printmaking, photography, and mixed media.
Their combined efforts have resulted in a unique group exhibition.
Mapondera continues to touch the hearts of millions by transforming recycled materials such as plastic bottles, straws, and thread into intricate textile pieces.
At the management level, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has been praised for renovating the main galleries in Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls.
These timely renovations come after Zimbabwe won its bid to host the 58th annual conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), scheduled for next year at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
“The hosting of the CIMAM Annual Conference in Zimbabwe in 2026 is significant not only for our nation, but for Africa as a whole.
“This event will bring together at least 300 global museum directors and curators, allowing them to experience Zimbabwean art first hand. It provides a unique opportunity for both artists and curators to engage with global museum leaders attending the conference.
“Furthermore, this will be the first time the CIMAM Annual Conference is held in Africa,” he stated.
To sum up the appeal of artwork in Zimbabwe, many schools have been visiting local galleries to learn more about art in 2025, which is a positive development for the sector.
With most visual artists relying on international buyers, credit goes to the arts regulatory leaders, curators and artists working closely with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Victoria Falls.
