Mbare-born painter wins major South African art prize

By Alex News

SOUTH AFRICA: This year’s FNB Art prize winner is Zimbabwean artist Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude, awarded at a ceremony in Rosebank on August 6.

This marks the 14th edition of the competition which seeks to support and grow the continent’s cultural offerings in ways that go beyond the fair.

“There is a compelling balance between artwork for hope and political resistance in Gresham’s work, and adept use of satire allows him to navigate and illuminate complex, often contentious, topics with a nuanced approach that invites viewers to engage critically.

“His commitment to the medium is evident in his technique and sophisticated use of colour. This control over brushwork not only showcases his technical skills but also enhances the expressive power of his work,” the jury said.

FNB chief marketing officer Faye Mfikwe commented; “As a brand, we remain focused on supporting the creative economy and ensuring that contemporary African art remains a consistent player in the global art landscape.

“We are immensely proud to have played a role, which, for many of the winning artists, has served as a stepping stone on the road to being recognised by the international art scene.”

Born and raised in Mbare township in Harare, Nyaude’s images oscillate between figuration, abstraction, and hallucination.

To do this, the artist draws from the restless energy of his neighbourhood and country, where more than 70% of the population is under 30.

Living on the edge between survival and chaos his visual messages swing between brutal and sentimental.

Defying characterisation, his renders capture a generation’s absurdly relentless drive to attain and maintain dignity and a quality of life that sometimes appears beyond reach.

“When you look back at the calibre of artists who have won this prize, they are awe-inspiring to the public and their peers. They find new ways to use existing materials to interrogate important issues,” said FNB Art Joburg’s managing director Mandla Sibeko when presenting the award.

“Gresham is no different. The way he approaches the canvas with paint continues the reflective, conscious, and delicate legacies the medium has offered through previous winners.”

Following Mundopa, Zvavahera and Chiurai, Nyaude fortifies Zimbabwe’s contemporary contribution to African mastery in painting.

Spanning 16 years, Nyaude’s work has achieved international acclaim and collector recognition.

In 2018 he presented a major body of work in the United States of America as part of Songs for Sabotage at the New Museum Triennial.

His work also sits in the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Museum of Contemporary African Art Al Maaden (Macaal), Rubell Family Collection, Jorge Perez personal collection, and numerous notable private collections.

As the winner of the 2024 prize, Nyaude will receive a cash prize and a solo exhibition at Johannesburg Art Gallery where the largest art collection, on the continent, resides.