Tapfuma Gutsa

Visual Artist

Born in 1956, Tapfuma Gutsa is one of the visual artists who received formal training in sculpting. Domiciled in Harare, he studied sculpture with others like Cornelius Manguma at the Driefontein Mission School. Exceptional exploits during his study of sculpture saw him becoming the first black Zimbabwean recipient of a British Council award.

The scholarship allowed him to study in London from 1982 until 1985, where he received a diploma in sculpture from the City and Guilds of London School of Art. In essence, unlike self-taught visual arts practitioners, he is a formally trained sculptor and this explains the uniqueness of aesthetic works.

Tapfuma Gutsa is unusual among Zimbabwean stone sculptors for the breadth of materials he uses in his artworks; his sculptures incorporate metal, paper, wood, and other foreign materials. His winning sculpture at the Nedlaw exhibition, 1987, comprised smouldering grass engulfing a wooden bird.

Wood sculpting is also in his blood. Besides mentoring Dominic Benhura, he also played a pivotal role in nurturing other visual artists like Fabian Madamombe. At one point he once worked at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare holding a senior post but he is predominantly an artist rather than an arts administrator hence his decision to concentrate on creation rather than arts administration.

In 2007, he was one of the eleven international artists commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, to produce works for an exhibition titled ‘Uncomfortable Truths: The Shadow of Slave Trading on Contemporary Art”. This was a direct result of his outstanding artworks with an international appeal that led to his selection.

As exemplified by the numerous art exhibitions, workshops and residence programmes that he has held and participated in, Tapfuma Gutsa is an internationally acclaimed visual artist. Examples inter alia include the following, Xayamaca Workshop Crystal Springs, Jamaica, and Contemporary Stone Sculpture from Zimbabwe.

Others are Yorkshire Sculpture Park UK, Artist’s Residency at Delfina Studios London, England and Contemporary African Art, Studio Museum, Harlem New York City, USA. Also, he participated in regional programmes like Ujamaa Art Workshop Exhibition and the Center for Brazilian Studies Maputo, Mozambique. Such programmes cover national ones too like Pachipamwe/ZIM-Sculpture Workshop Shurugwi, Zimbabwe and the President’s Award of Honor, Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition amongst others.

Tapfuma Gutsa’s contribution to the development of the visual arts sector in Zimbabwe is being felt far and wide. He has a passion for creating and enjoying harmony between nature and visual art creations.

Also, he cherishes unearthing creativity from marginalized and usually remote communities of Zimbabwe. Gutsa continues to play a critical role in the development and growth of the visual arts sector, particularly through his zeal in imparting valuable knowledge and skills to young and upcoming visual artists. Dominic Benhura and others remain living examples of products of his mentorship and coaching initiatives.—NACZ.