Johnson Zuze
Johnson Zuze (born 1985) is a visual artist in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zuze is known for his art made out of recycled materials, which he collects from dump grounds near his home of Chitungwiza. Zuze's art includes items including plastic bottles, glass, wire snares and other non-biodegradable waste.[1] Zuze was inspired to create art in response to the amount of trash in his neighborhood.[1]
Entirely self taught, Zuze uses his art to convey social statements about environmental issues and recycling.[2] Zuze's works using wire snares are used to spark discussion on animal poaching and conservation.[3] Zuze uses snares collected in the Gonarezhou National Park and the Save Valley Conservancy in his work.[4]
Zuze began showcasing his works in 2008.[5] His first exhibition, "Enriching Women" was recognized with a second place prize in the accompanying exhibition.[5] In 2016, Zuze won the Zimbabwean National Art Merit Awards.[2][6] In 2018, Zuze's "Animal Kingdom Exhibition" was exhibited at Harare's Delta Gallery and sponsored by the government of Switzerland.[7]
References
- ^ a b Kunaka, Tatenda (February 9, 2014). "Artist's creations inspired by litter". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ a b "Zimbabwean sculptor transforms waste into valuable art". Africanews. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ "Zimbabwean artist transforms poachers' tools into powerful conservation art". NewZimbabwe.com. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ "Art exhibition in Harare carries a message of hope and resilience". Great Zimbabwe Guide - Travel Blog. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ a b Garan’anga, Stephen (2015-06-14). "Zuze's art continues to shine". Zimbabwean Herald. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ "Zuze's fascination with dogs brings reward – DailyNews". dailynews.co.zw. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ^ "Johnson Zuze's Kingdom: an Exhibition with found objects at Gallery Delta". www.eda.admin.ch (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-23.