Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
GROWING international demand for Zimbabwean art has received another boost, with renowned visual artist Portia Zvavahera’s latest painting fetching US$406 200 at a prestigious auction in London recently.
Zvavahera’s painting, This is where I travelled 3, sold for £307 200 (US$406 200) at Christie’s, a world-leading art and luxury auction house, setting a new record for the artist and highlighting the increasing recognition of Zimbabwean contemporary art on the global market.
For Zvavahera, who was born near Juru Growth Point in Mashonaland East and raised in Harare, the sale marks another significant moment in her artistic journey.
She developed her skills at the National Gallery BAT Workshop School, now known as the National Gallery School of Visual Art and Design, before pursuing further studies and gaining international exposure.
Her Diploma in Visual Arts, obtained from Harare Polytechnic around 2006, also contributed to her artistic development.
Zvavahera has since established herself as one of Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary artists, exhibiting her work internationally and participating in prestigious events such as the Venice Biennale in Italy.
Her latest achievement has attracted attention on social media platform X and international art websites, further strengthening her profile on the global art scene.
According to ArtWeb Africa, an online publication covering the art market, the painting was sold as part of Monsoon: The Peter Simon Collection. It had a pre-sale estimate of between £70 000 and £100 000.
“Its final price, including buyer’s premium, was more than four times the low estimate, demonstrating strong competition for the work.
The result surpassed Zvavahera’s previous auction record of US$355 600, established at Sotheby’s New York in May 2023, representing an increase of approximately 14 percent.
“The sale was part of an exceptionally successful evening at Christie’s London, where the auction house’s combined 20th/21st Century evening sales generated approximately £218.6 million.
The Peter Simon Collection alone achieved £107.5 million, with several new artist records established during the evening,” ArtWeb Africa reported.
The publication noted that the sale was significant not only because of the price achieved, but also because it provided further evidence of the growing international market for contemporary Zimbabwean art.
“For Zimbabwean contemporary art, Zvavahera’s result is significant not only because of the price achieved, but because it provides another measurable indication of the growing international market for artworks produced by Zimbabwean artists,” the publication noted.
ArtWeb Africa added that the result was encouraging for other Zimbabwean artists seeking to establish themselves in the international art market.
“While Zvavahera’s latest sale has attracted considerable attention, fellow Zimbabwean painter Kudzanai-Violet Hwami achieved approximately US$484 000–US$487 000 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2021, exceeding Zvavahera’s current record.
“Other contemporary artists, including Gareth Nyandoro, Kudzanai Chiurai, Richard Mudariki, Misheck Masamvu, Moffat Takadiwa and Wallen Mapondera, have also established auction histories across major international and regional auction houses.
“Zvavahera’s secondary-market trajectory provides one of the clearest examples of rising record prices for a Zimbabwean contemporary artist. Her auction breakthrough occurred in October 2020 when Arising from the Unknown (2019) sold for US$211 900 at Phillips London. Three years later, Vese Vakandibata (They all gave me strength) (2016) achieved US$355 600 at Sotheby’s New York, increasing her auction record by approximately 68 percent. The October 2026 sale at Christie’s London has now raised that benchmark to US$406 200.” Other Zimbabwean visual artists have also made their mark on the international art market.
Kudzanai Chiurai, for instance, had a work sell for £61 131 at a Sotheby’s auction in London in 2024.
The list of Zimbabwean artists gaining international recognition also includes Gareth Nyandoro, Virginia Chihota, Thomas Mukarobgwa, and Bernard Matemera.
Zvavahera’s journey from humble beginnings to international recognition reflects years of dedication and commitment to her craft. Her achievements have also made her a source of inspiration for aspiring artists in Zimbabwe.
According to her biography, she has held solo exhibitions in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, as well as in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
As a mother and mentor, Zvavahera continues to raise Zimbabwe’s profile on the international art scene while setting a benchmark for emerging visual artists.
