Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Demand for Zimbabwean art collections continues to grow, with international buyers drawn to the uniqueness, creativity and cultural depth of the country’s contemporary works.
This was evident at the ongoing 2026 International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in Italy, where Zimbabwean artists Eva Raath, Pardon Mapondera, Franklyn Dzingai, Felix Shumba and Gideon Gomo are showcasing a diverse body of contemporary work alongside artists from across the continent.
Their participation has been hailed as a game-changer for Zimbabwe’s visual arts sector.
Beyond providing a platform to market Zimbabwean art on the international stage, the exhibition has also opened doors for collaborations between local artists and creatives from other African countries.
The Zimbabwean and Ethiopian contingents have attracted considerable attention, with renowned visual artists and art critics praising their collections for their thought-provoking themes, originality and refreshing perspectives.
“There was an impressive representation of African countries this year. I was taken by the shows mounted by Zimbabwe and Ethiopia,” wrote Aruna D’Souza, The Hyperallergic Editor.
“In Zimbabwe’s group show, “Second Nature,” the artists Eva Raath, Felix Shumba, Franklin Dzingal, Gideon Gomo, and Pardon Mapondera think about the impact that machine logic, technical mediation, and systems of control will have on our unconscious, habit-driven sense of being human.
Meanwhile, for “Ethiopia, Tengene Kunbi’s large-scale paintings, which incorporate textiles (some industrial fast fashion remnants, some handmade by the artist’s mother), were complex and had a great colour sense.”
D’Souza’s endorsement of Zimbabwean art collections in Italy is good news for the country, which won the bid to host the 58th annual conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM).
The mammoth visual arts event, scheduled for November, has since received Government approval.
Zimbabwe won the right to host CIMAM during a stakeholders’ meeting held last year in Barcelona, Spain.
The meeting was attended by art collector Han Nefkens, founder of the Han Nefkens Foundation in the Netherlands.
Notable attendees included Suhanya Raffel, president of CIMAM and director of M+ in Hong Kong; National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) director Raphael Chikukwa; Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, president of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and co-host of the 2025 annual conference in Turin; and Elvira Dyangani Ose.
Following Zimbabwe’s successful bid to host the 58th edition of CIMAM, there has been growing excitement among visual artists, as the country’s art collections continue to attract international interest.
Chikukwa recently told the Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub that CIMAM would not only be an important arts event, but also a major tourism booster, with more than 300 international curators and museum directors expected to visit Zimbabwe.
“The CIMAM Annual Conference will also promote cultural tourism in a big way, benefiting hotels and tour companies. Hosting the CIMAM Annual Conference is a form of soft power, and the gallery also thanks our parent ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture for allowing us to think beyond our borders.”
The curator noted that the 58th conference would give local artists an opportunity to forge synergies with international museum directors and curators.
“Local artists will benefit by interacting with CIMAM Annual Conference delegates, as they will visit their studios.
“It’s time for our local artists to prepare for the CIMAM Annual Conference coming to their doorstep.” He also outlined the journey that led to Zimbabwe being chosen to host the conference.
“The conversations to host the CIMAM Annual Conference started when I was a delegate at the CIMAM Annual Conference in 2022 in Palma, Spain.
“The conversation continued, and I would like to thank the CIMAM board for listening to us.
“Most importantly, the gallery and the CIMAM Annual Conference have a parallel history. The CIMAM Annual Conference was founded in 1962, and our iconic ICAC (International Conference on African Cultures) was also founded in 1962. This brings our two institutions together.”
NGZ has been working with various partners, including the Mellon Foundation and Higherlife Foundation. Zimbabwean visual artists will come under the spotlight during the conference, showcasing their diverse collections and creative works to an international audience.
