Dominic benhura biography

Dominic Benhura is one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent contemporary sculptors within the ‘Shona sculpture’ art movement. He has exhibited worldwide, and his artworks feature in many public and private collections. In 2003, Dominic was privileged to meet Nelson Mandela when one of Dominic’s sculptures, ‘Swing Me, Mama’, was installed in a display commemorating Mandela in Johannesburg.

Dominic was born in Murewa in eastern Zimbabwe in 1968. He was a bright child, and did well at primary school so he came to Harare in 1980 to attend secondary school. He stayed with his uncle Sekuru Gutsa and his cousin Tapfuma Gutsa, who was already a well-known young sculptor; Dominic and Tapfuma became friends and Dominic began working with stone. An early sale to a foreign diplomat enabled him to pay his school fees, and his career in stone sculpture was assured.

After leaving school with good grades, Dominic immediately turned to sculpting as his full-time profe

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Dominic Benhura

Zimbabwean sculptor

Dominic Benhura
Born	Dominic Benhura 1968 (1968) Murewa, Rhodesia
Nationality	Zimbabwean
Known for	Sculpture
Movement	Shona sculpture

Dominic Benhura (born 1968) is a Zimbabweansculptor.

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 Salisbury for further studies. His uncle had a home in the suburb of Tafara, and Benhura went to live there at the age of ten; he lived with his cousin Tapfuma Gutsa, already a well-known sculptor. Benhura began polishing his cousin's sculptures, but soon began carving himself, making small offcuts before moving onto large stone. He sold his first piece at twelve.

Despite having no formal training, Benhura turned to sculpting full-time upon the finish of his schooling, showing his work at the Chapungu Sculpture Park for the fi

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Dominic Benhura

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Born 1968 in Murewa.

Dominic Benhura was born in a small town of Murewa, some 100 kilometres north east of Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare.  His father died before he was born and he was raised bygd his mother in humble rural circumstances. At the age of ten, Benhura went to live in Harare with his cousin Tapfuma Gutsa, an established sculptor in his own right, who introduced Benhura to art and culture.
Tapfuma gained art and wood carving experience from Serima Mission and quickly became Benhura’s friend and mentor.  Benhura began to help Gutsa polish pieces, later trying his hand at chisel and hammer, eventually carving small off cuts before moving onto large stone.  Gutsa continued to support, nurture and encourage Benhura and was pleased to see the ung man develop his own individual style.  Selling his first work to architects at the age of twelve, sculpting became a passion for Benhura who would hurry home from school to