Henry Munyaradzi

In 1998*, Zimbabwean sculptor Henry Munyaradzi died at the age of 66-67. Known simply as “Henry”, Munyaradzi is one of the best-known artist in the Zimbabwean sculpture movement. His works are represented in numerous notable collections, including the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, the Chapungu Sculpture Park, the Museum fur Völkerkunde, Frankfurt, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and the British Museum.

Henry was born in Guruve, northern Zimbabwe, in 1931. He was brought up by his uncle, Edward Chiwawa, who was a local carpenter; he never attended school. His education was practical and first-hand. Eventually he became village blacksmith, and also worked as a carpenter and tobacco grader.

Seeking employment in 1967, he stumbled across the Tengenege Sculptors’ Community set up by Tom Blomefield, who according to his profile of Henry suggested he work alone rather than be influenced by the other sculptors. Given Henry’s knowledge of woodwork and metal forging, he quickly learned the skills of a sculptor in stone, remaining largely self-taught for his entire career. Henry left the Community to work on his own in 1975.

Henry’s work formed part of several seminal exhibitions during the 1960s-1970s, including at the Musée Rodin (Paris) and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (London). He also had eight solo exhibitions. From 1985 until his death, Henry lived and worked at his farm in Ruwa.

One of Henry's works, called Wing Woman, was depicted on a Zimbabwean stamp issued to commemorate Commonwealth Day on 14 March 1983. It formed the 9c value in a set completed with works by Joseph Ndandarika, John Takawira and Nicholas Mukomberanwa. The stamp carries the name “Henry Mudzengerere”! Another, called Spirit Python was the 30c value in a set issued on 14 April 1988 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery.

(Source: English Wikipedia; *sources differ regarding his date of death: 27 Feb. / 27 Jul. 1998)

For examples of his work see for example: the British Museum

Selected publications

Following the stone: Zimbabwean sculptors carving a place in 21st century art worlds / Lance L. Larkin. - ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014

Carving identity : artistic traditions and aesthetic knowledge in contemporary Zimbabwe / Joseph Jame Kinsella. - Ann Arbor, MI : UMI Dissertation Services, 2007, cop. 2006

Pieces of time : an anthology of articles on Zimbabwean stone sculpture / Celia Winter Irving. - Gweru : Mambo Press, 2004

Zimbabwe stone sculpture : a retrospective 1957-2004 / Doreen Sibanda. - Harare : The Embassy of France, with Weaver Press, 2004

Henry Munyaradzi / B. Murray.
In: Gallery, no. 15, 1998, p. 24-25

Zimbabwean stone sculpture: The invention of a Shona tradition / Jonathan Leslie Zilberg. - ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1996

Life in stone : Zimbabwean sculpture : birth of a contemporary art form / Olivier Sultan; Peter Fernancdes. - Harare : Baobab Books, 1994

Tengenenge : een beeldhouwersgemeenschap in Zimbabwe / H.M. Leyten. - Baarn : Kasteel Groeneveld, ©1994

Spirit Protecting Orphans, Henry Munyaradzi

Timeline of 20th-century Zimbabwean sculptors via Wikidata and DBpedia