Dominic benhura

Born in 1968, Dominic Benhura is in a league of his own. He began his career in carving at the age of ten when he studied under his cousin, Tapfuma Gusta, a master sculptor.

After selling his first piece professionally to an architect at the age of twelve, Dominic has continued to excel as an artist at an exponential rate and has become one of the most renowned artists to ever emerge from Zimbabwe.

The artist's work is bold and daring; impressively capturing balance and movement both physically and emotionally. Dominic is constantly exploring new ideas, concepts, techniques and methods to express and communicate simple yet powerful ideas. Nature, family and his relationship with his children remain his main inspiration.

The stone itself is selected for its luminosity and colour and is carved, ground down, and reconstructed to create his work. What Dominic has achieved, maybe more than any other artist of his time is his ability to create instantly recognisable work. Just as the Mona Lisa instantly ignites da Vinci's name or the way an image of a Campbell's soup will forever be bound to Warhol, the whimsical playing children in stone are quintessentially Benhura. 

Dominic’s work has been included in many major exhibitions both in Zimbabwe and internationally. He has also been involved in workshops in Botswana, USA, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. He now works out of his home and is passing down his knowledge and skill to many international artists and local apprentices. Dominic is also director of Tengenenge Art Community, an open-air gallery where many sculptures are exhibited, each of their sculptors own a stand. They receive the stone for free and the Tengenenge organisation takes care of sales and community services, such as water and electricity with an artists’ commission.