The Great Stone Sculptors of Africa
Cosmas Kamhiriri Muchenje
Artist gallery
Born: 1960
Place: Msana, near Bindura , Zimbabwe
From an early age Cosmas showed artistic promise whilst at school, drawing charts and illustrating diagrams for his teacher. It was his mother who
encouraged him to pursue his great interest when finishing his basic education. He later studied at the Canon Paterson Art Center and the Peter Birch School of Art (mainly painting, rather than sculpting) and was influenced enormously by these early experiences.
As a sculptor, Cosmas originally worked representationally in Verdite, but now works with all the serpentines and other semiprecious stones such as Lepidolite, Unakite and Marble, creating works that have a lyrical and graceful quality.
The late John Takawira and Edward Chiwawa were his early influences. He loved and admired these early artists. McEwan describes the Shona People as “Quiet,
reflective and deeply spiritual” Through his work and his life Muchenje reflects these qualities.
His sculptures incorporate the natural organic forms of stone and in some of his works he fuses the stone with drift or reclaimed wood. He is also well known for his depictions of the resting antelope and other animal forms. Cosmos has exhibited in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and the
USA.