Thomas Mukarobgwa

Thomas Mukarobgwa was a Zimbabwean artist whose works are characterised by an intimate relationship with the landscape, customs and beliefs of the Shona people as part of which he was raised. Born in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe to subsistence farmers, Mukarobgwa spent most of his youth herding cattle, a period in which he developed a deep affinity with nature. Mukarobgwa eventually moved to Harare (then Salisbury) for employment, taking up a job as a cleaner in the National Gallery c.1956. It was there he met the then Director of the National Gallery Frank McEwen, with who he formed a close relationship. Their collaborations eventually led to the establishment of the Workshop School, which trained many of the Shona artists whose stone works make up an indelible constituent of the canon of Southern African art. Known also as ‘Mu’, Mukarobgwa’s output included both painting and sculpture. Four of his paintings are included in the collection of the MoMA, at least two of which entered into the collection during the tenure of Alfred Barr. The present paintings by the artist demonstrate his sophistication as a colourist. Despite a vivid, near surreal depiction of these natural landscapes, Mukarobgwa succeeds in conveying the sense of balance, tranquillity and naturalism one would associate with a verisimilar landscape. His distinct style and intimate relationship with his subject mark the artist as an early master in the realm of postcolonial modern African art.