Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa
Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa is a self-taught artist whose practice spans painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. Born in Mhondoro, Mubaira, Zimbabwe, Mbayiwa relocated to Cape Town, South Africa, in 2009, where he has since integrated his cultural heritage and personal beliefs into his artistic expressions. Influenced by his elder brother, Hugh Hatitye Mbayiwa, an art teacher, as well as mentorship from established artists such as James Jali and Nhavira Tendai, Mbayiwa draws deeply from the narratives and fables that resonate with his life experiences.
Mbayiwa has participated in numerous group exhibitions and art fairs, including “Extensive Landscapes” at The Cape Gallery in 2020 and the artHARARE online fair in the same year. His recent projects include “Kutsvaga (Searching)” at Spin Street Gallery and the performance intervention “Beitbridge Polite Force,” showcased at the Beitbridge Border and the 2022 Cape Town Art Fair. Mbayiwa’s installation, “Kudzivirira Mheni,” was featured in the Spier Light Art festival in 2022. His solo exhibitions, “Kura Uwone/Grow Up and See” at AVA Gallery (2022) and “Takambosvika Sei Pano?” at Sisonke Gallery (2023), further reflect his evolving artistic journey. “My beliefs and cultural values shape the way I conceptualize my work. Growing up in the countryside, I was surrounded by stories and experiences that deeply inform my artistic practice. I entertain myself with memories of hide and seek, river swimming, cattle herding, and the folk tales shared by my parents. These childhood experiences are woven into my art, where I often employ animals —particularly cows, birds, and f ish — as metaphorical characters. Ultimately, my work seeks to bridge the gap between my rural upbringing and the contemporary narratives that shape our world, capturing the essence of my journey and the stories that continue to guide me."
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