Tanyanyiwa Nyandoro

Tanyanyiwa was the winner of the 2009 ‘Artist of the Year’ competition sponsored by the Bernard Matemera Foundation. His work was judged to be the most original piece, uninfluenced by others around him, but he was also recognised for his commitment to sculpting and the amazing improvement he has shown over recent years.

“I was born on 21 June 1982 and I did my education in Chitungwiza up to age 17. Ignatius Zuwakiyi, a famous artist who is a member of the Chapungu Sculpture Village, inspired me to become a sculptor. I trained as his apprentice, first helping to polish his sculptures, and later he gave me raw stones and taught me the basics of sculpture. He encouraged me to establish myself as an independent artist. I have been sculpting since 1998. My most important inspiration was the discovery of Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture on the internet.

I have participated in various workshops, including ones organised by the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare and locally at the Chitungwiza Arts Centre and Pachipamwe Arts. My works have been featured in numerous group shows at the National Gallery and at other art exhibitions at various Harare galleries such as the Delta Gallery. My pieces have also been displayed in galleries in USA, Australia, Holland and South Korea. I usually work with springstone, opal stone and cobalt.”