When Zimbabwean artist Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude names a series Cartwheels in the Sand, it’s more than poetic whimsy — it’s a declaration of freedom. It’s the imagery of joy leaping over life’s barriers, shaped by his upbringing in Mbare, Zimbabwe’s oldest township, where the road to success is often a maze of hurdles.
“For me, art is a way to be free, and to be human, in the most honest way possible,” says Nyaude, his voice carrying the weight of 37 years of lived creativity. Drawing since childhood, his journey began with pencil and paper, but it has taken him to global galleries and now, to one of South Africa’s most prestigious stages.
A Career-Defining Moment
In August 2024, Nyaude claimed the 14th FNB Art Prize, rising above a competitive shortlist. The win wasn’t just an accolade — it was a turning point. It meant exhibiting at FNB Art Joburg and gaining a powerful endorsement from South Africa’s art establishment, strengthening his position as a Zimbabwean artist in a competitive market.
His high school friend and fellow artist Wycliffe Mundopa once planted the seed: “Art is not just something you do; it’s something you can live on.” That seed grew into a lifelong dedication to painting — not for fame or validation, but for the deep, transformative act of creation.
“When you’re painting, you lose yourself,” he reflects. “It’s about the process — the way colour blends, the way ideas take form. Recognition is nice, but it’s not the reason to do it.”
Breaking Boundaries in the African Art Scene
Even after 16 years in the industry, Nyaude faced the challenge of visibility. The FNB Art Prize provided a breakthrough — an acknowledgment that African artists, no matter their origin, deserve global attention.
“The prize is an endorsement that gives audiences confidence to support an artist from outside the country,” he says. “In South Africa, we’re still breaking glass ceilings.”
From Prize to Platform: ‘Sugar Coats’ Exhibition
This year, the recognition has materialised into his solo exhibition Sugar Coats, opening Saturday, 23 August at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG). The show forms part of the FNB Art Prize’s legacy — a collaboration between FNB Art Joburg and JAG — and challenges him to think conceptually on a larger scale, engaging both history and legacy.
“My commitment is to growth and evolution,” he says. “This is about developing work for a museum space — thinking big, thinking about what I leave behind.”
Staying True in a Commercialised World
While his career expands globally, Nyaude resists pressures to conform to market trends or outsider expectations of “Africanness.”
“Everything I paint is painted by an African. I don’t need to prove it to anyone,” he says firmly.
He also invests in mentoring young artists, urging them to focus on skill, discipline, and authenticity rather than quick market success.
“The pressure to ‘make it’ fast is a distraction. Skills are the muscle that free your humanity.”
A Call to Support African Art
Looking forward, Nyaude envisions a future where African audiences, collectors, museums, and publications champion the continent’s creative talent.
“The FNB Art Prize is proof that when artists, institutions, and industry collaborate, incredible things happen. We need more of that in Africa.”
As he readies Sugar Coats for opening night, Nyaude’s story stands as a rallying cry — for authenticity, for collaboration, and for African creativity to take its rightful place on the world stage.
