Ephraim was born in Guruve, northern Zimbabwe, in 1940. He is a member of the Kore Kore tribe, and is closely related to the powerful chief Chimbwerere. He grew up in an agricultural community, herding and observing animals, but his first job was as the local watchmaker and his earliest sculptures were decorated with motifs of cogs and the inner workings of watches. Ephraim joined Tom Blomefield’s Tengenenge Art Community in 1966 and, with Tom’s encouragement, began sculpting the local serpentine stone. His early interest in animals quickly became his inspiration, as first a tortoise emerged and then baboons, owls, lions and horses, amongst others, followed. Although he is now elderly, Ephraim continues to fit in his love of art and sculpture around the rigorous demands of his farm. He now has a worldwide following and is particularly well known for his endearing sculptures of horses.
Selected Exhibitions:-
2000/01 ‘Seele in Stein’, Museum Alpin, Pontresina, Switzerland
1998 ‘Zimbabwe, Stenen Getuigenissen’, Afrika Museum Belgium
1997 ‘Moderne Afrikanische Kunst’, Skulpturen aus Zimbabwe, Messepark, Munich, Germany
1990 ‘Contemporary Stone Carving From Zimbabwe’, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK
1989 ‘Fanizani and Chaurika’, Two Man Exhibition, Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare, Zimbabwe
1985 ‘Soul In Stone’, Group Exhibition, Irving Sculpture Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1980 ‘Tengenenge Stone Sculpture from Africa’, Feingarten Galleries, Los Angeles, CA, USA
1973 ‘Shonas d’Afrique’, Galerie Simone Badinier, Paris, France
1967/68 ‘New African Art: the African Workshop School’, Organised by MOMA, NY, USA (toured several American cities)
1966 Annual Art Exhibition, National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia