Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude

Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude (born in 1988) is an artist born at Harare,Zimbabwe. Quotes “The feeling has been amazing, honestly. I’m a low-key person, so getting all that attention feels amazing,” “When you do something with all your heart, and you put everything in it, of course it’s gonna get people’s attention and people are gonna try to understand your story.” “It’s been a journey [where] you do something almost every day. Of course, you’re gonna get results, and a lot of learning curves as well. I think I would not be able to connect with the world as much as I connect with it right now if I was not an artist,” “They have got a long historical significance. I live in a neighborhood where we now use these idioms as slang. For me, it’s that change whereby we’re preserving our language through slang,” “I’m an old-school type of painter. I just stick to the basics. I use oil paints and charcoal drawing sticks. Growing up in the streets, there was a lot of graffiti, so I use spray paint as well in the work.” “It’s a relationship where you need to understand what they put on the table. If you have a gallery, they will help you with things like residencies. It’s a big pool where a lot of things could happen, and working with a gallery keeps me financially stable,” “I think it’s an exciting time right now to be in Africa. It’s always been. I just try to be authentic and be the best version of myself,” Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude on Winning the 2024 FNB Art Prize and Putting Zimbabwe on the Map-okayafrica. (26 August 2024) “I never dreamed that one day I will receive this award – this is a big deal for me, I’m so happy, I’m so honoured,” “I’m doing the right thing, I’m in the right lane of my life… receiving this most prestigious art award in Africa.” Zimbabwean artist Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude wins 2024 FNB Art Prize- Mail &Guardian (17August 2024) "It feels amazing" "I was born in Mbare,Harare and my father was an illustrator but he was never a professional artist.My family is artistically gifted also,so i just thought art was a way of life.I didn't know that is a gift and talent." "I grew up in Harare,which is smaller than Johanesburg but that has a concrete jungle.There is always this street energy and often that is represented in the slang versio of the language.Language inspires me and i find joy in playing with it." "In 2018, I did a collection inspired by Shona proverb that when translated says that a person's smile can deceive you.When you meet someone, they have this layer that they wear but there are inner issues.This describes the current state of Zimbabwe,where most people walk around with this cool smiley face but they are going through deep issues," "I looked at the concept of all dimensions,dissecting the slang and original versions of proverbs before painting it on a canvas." "The mediums i use for my artwork are mostly oils and sometimes charcoal and spray paint.Now i incorporate drawings and paintings in my work.Most painters sketch first then cover them with paint. I enjoy seeing the marks as I think every mark that is put on canvas must be seen." Illustrations of life in Zim wins Nyaude first award- Sowetan (15 Agust 2024) “Our paintings were regarded as primitive back in the day, because it was like you only find it in caves,” “Our African painting is very esoteric and is very intelligent, because we speak about social issues, we speak about things that happen to us and also in an authentic voice,” Johannesburg art fair shows clout of African buyers-Kuwaitimes(07 September 2024) Category:Living people Category:Artists from Zimbabwe