National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) is a gallery in Harare
, Zimbabwe
, dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe
’s contemporary art
and visual heritage. The Original "National Gallery of Rhodesia" was designed and directed by Frank McEwen
, a British citizen credited with bringing Shona Sculpture to the spotlight .
The Gallery was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on the 16th July 1957 and Queen Elizabeth II attended the sixth Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition there in October 1991 .
McEwen was curator of the Gallery from 1957 until his resignation in 1973. The next curator was Roy Guthrie, who founded the Chapungu Sculpture Park
in 1970. In 2007, the gallery celebrated its fiftieth anniversary: its current (2011) Executive Director is Doreen Sibanda, with curator Raphael Chikukwa. The well-known Zimbabwean sculptor Dominic Benhura
is a member of the Board of Trustees.
The National Gallery in Bulawayo is a branch of the NGZ in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo
. It was located for some years in an old market building behind City Hall, but since 1993 has occupied Douslin House on Main Street, an elegant two-storey building of 1901.
Directors of the National Gallery in Bulawayo include Stephen Williams, Yvonne Vera
and Addelis Sibutha.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare was opened in 1999 at Kopje House. The building itself dates from 1897 and was Mutare
's first hospital. It was designated a Culture House under National Museums and Monuments before becoming the gallery.
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
’s contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
and visual heritage. The Original "National Gallery of Rhodesia" was designed and directed by Frank McEwen
Frank McEwen
Francis Jack "Frank" McEwen, OBE was an English artist, teacher, and museum administrator. He is best remembered today for his efforts to bring attention to the work of Shona artists in Rhodesia, and for helping to found the National Gallery of Zimbabwe...
, a British citizen credited with bringing Shona Sculpture to the spotlight .
The Gallery was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on the 16th July 1957 and Queen Elizabeth II attended the sixth Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition there in October 1991 .
McEwen was curator of the Gallery from 1957 until his resignation in 1973. The next curator was Roy Guthrie, who founded the Chapungu Sculpture Park
Chapungu Sculpture Park
The Chapungu Sculpture Park is a sculpture park in Msasa, Harare, Zimbabwe, which displays the work of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. Its was founded in 1970 by Roy Guthrie, who was instrumental in promoting the work of its sculptors worldwide...
in 1970. In 2007, the gallery celebrated its fiftieth anniversary: its current (2011) Executive Director is Doreen Sibanda, with curator Raphael Chikukwa. The well-known Zimbabwean sculptor Dominic Benhura
Dominic Benhura
Dominic Benhura is a Zimbabwean sculptor.Benhura was born in Murewa, to the northeast of Harare. His father died before his birth, and he was raised by his mother. As he was an excellent student, it was suggested that he be sent to Harare for further studies...
is a member of the Board of Trustees.
The National Gallery in Bulawayo is a branch of the NGZ in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. It was located for some years in an old market building behind City Hall, but since 1993 has occupied Douslin House on Main Street, an elegant two-storey building of 1901.
Directors of the National Gallery in Bulawayo include Stephen Williams, Yvonne Vera
Yvonne Vera
Yvonne Vera was an award-winning author from Zimbabwe. Her novels are known for their poetic prose, difficult subject-matter, and their strong women characters, and are firmly rooted in Zimbabwe's difficult past...
and Addelis Sibutha.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare was opened in 1999 at Kopje House. The building itself dates from 1897 and was Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
's first hospital. It was designated a Culture House under National Museums and Monuments before becoming the gallery.