ReCurate | Held in the Balance

“Delicately chipping off the imagined or perceived into existence, my work reflects a journey from the traditional into a contemporary form of expression. The ancient craft of carving evolves into a blend of past and present forms of craftsmanship.

Ideas are sketched, then transferred to larger pieces of paper. Thereafter, cutouts are made for final transfer to materials.

Wood or stone is carefully selected to reflect thoughts and intended outcomes. Moreover, the juxtaposition of wood and stone resembles binaries of co-existence, their constant flux in search of equilibrium. As a result, the sculptures reflect harmony of otherwise disparate elements that we as humans may at least strive for” - Shepherd Ndudzo.

Ndudzo's delicately carved forms typically explore and celebrate the female form, in both elegantly carved lines and swooping curves. His inspiration is often based on his wife and daughters, but he also explores interpersonal relationships, as well as more universal issues, such as the unfolding tragedy of migrants leaving their countries. Carved from ironwood, the hardest known, slow-growing wood on the African continent, Ndudzo's combines the beautifully honed wood with gleaming marble into forms that illicit a feeling of softness and femininity, despite the materials. He transforms this ancient wood into powerful and romantic imagery, defying the weight and density of the material.

In "Held in the Balance", Shepherd Ndudzo invites us into a world where form and feeling converge in quiet tension. Carved from ironwood and marble, his sculptures evoke the delicate equilibrium between strength and vulnerability. Through graceful lines and organic textures, Ndudzo gives voice to the unspoken - gestures of hope, resilience, and introspection that transcend cultures. Each piece, both grounded and reaching, becomes a meditation on what it means to hold space, to carry weight, and to remain whole in a shifting world.

Ndudzo’s work is widely collected and is held in the Collections of the National Gallery of Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as in the World Bank Collection in Washington. His work is in the Johannesburg City Council Collection and the Homestead Collection at the Norval Museum in Cape Town.  It is also held in corporate and private Collections in South Africa, USA, UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, China, and Russia.