NICHOLAS MUKOMBERANWA
(1940-2002)

Nicholas Mukomberanwa is recognized as one of the most important artists in the community of Shona sculptors. He was among the first generation of artists to participate in Frank McEwen’s Workshop School at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. HIs talent as an artist was recognized early in his life when, at the age of 15, he produced his first sculpture. But it was the recognition and encouragement of McEwen, then Director of the National Gallery of Rhodesia (today the Natiohnal Gallery of Zimbabwe) that directed Mukomberanwa to stone carving.

Mukomberanwa was teacher and mentor to many second generation artists beyond members of his extended family of accomplished artists and sculptors. During the time of his association with McEwen and the Workshop School, Mukomberanwa’s sculpture was featured in international exhibitions in Lusaka and London, toured South Africa, and was prominent in the “Sculpture Contemporaine des Shonas d’Afrique” at the Musée Rodain, Paris in 1971. From 1974 through 2002, Mukomberanwa exhibited work in the US, England, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Italy (Honorable Mention, African Sculpture Exhibition, Venice Biennale, 1990),

In 1986 Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe, bestowed on Nicholas a special award for his contribution to the visual arts in Zimbabwe, while in 1989 Nicholas was the overall winner in the annual Nedlaw/Baringa exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for his piece “Street Beggar” and was chosen, with Henry Munyaradzi, to represent Zimbabwe in the New York exhibition “Contemporary African Artists – Changing Tradition” at the Studio Museum, 1990.