born in 1953 in Masvingo, Zimbabwe
lives in Harare and works as a sculptor, painter and draftsman in Masvingo near Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Numerous overseas exhibitions including Boston, Chicago, New York, London, Salzburg, Stockholm, Dublin, Frankfurt, Berlin
His sculpture "War Victim" was used on a commemorative stamp in 1988
Joined BAT Visual Art Studios in Durban and was one of the first sculpture students of Frank McEwens Workshop School, the artistic basement of the later National Gallery
Studies abroad in Great Britain and Austria led him to experiments in other media, most notably printmaking, but also textile design and painting
Studied
and taught in Tanzania and returned to Zimbabwe to win important awards for
stone sculpture
(1983, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1996) and graphics (1988, 1998)
Joseph Muzondo, like many Zimbabwean Artists, began his training at the Harare National Gallery’s B.A.T. workshop. He took several courses there in 1981, including such areas of study as sculpture, painting and drawing, which were to become central to his further career. He has exhibited his work in Africa, Australia, Europe and the U.S. Muzondo’s work, which is frequently based on personal experience, e.g. his active service as a freedom fighter in Zimbabwe’s war of independence, addresses the damaged and transient character of human life. The horrors of war and its effects on people are recurring themes in his sculpture. Man is depicted as a suffering creature, estranged from nature through psychological pressure and physical suffering.
1999 - Venedig Biennale, Honorable Mention, Venedig, Italien
1996 -
Anglo American Overall Award of Distinction
- 'The Beelden op de Berg Foundation, Holland' Award of Distinction
in Sculpture
1995 - Award of Merit for Sculpture
1994 - Anglo American Overall Award of Distinction for Sculpture
- Best Sculptor of the Year (A.M.E. Awards), England und Zimbabwe
1988 - Award of Merit for Graphics in the Zimbabwe Heritage exhibition
- Zimbabwe-Briefmarke mit dem Motiv einer Skulptur von Muzondoaus dem Besitz der National Gallery of Zimbabwe
- Highly Commended Certificate for Sculpture
1986 - Award of Merit for Sculpture in the Zimbabwe Heritage exhibition
1984 - Award of Merit for Sculpture in the Nedlaw Annual Art exhibition
1983 - Award of Merit for Sculpture in the Nedlaw Annual Art exhibition
1988 - „Internationale Sommerakademie“, Salzburg, Österreich
1993 - „Shave Artist's Workshop“, Open Studios, Somerset, England
1994 - Sandro's Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe
Group Exhibitions (Selection)
2008 - „Chapungu: Nature, Man and Myth“, Powell Garden, Kansas City, USA
Weitere Ausstellungen in Bulgarien, Frankreich, Kanada, Mozambique, Südafrika, Zambia und USA
- „The Contemporary Master Stone Sculpturs of Zimbabwe“, Reece Galleries, New York, USA
2004 - „Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture. A Retrospective 1957 – 2004“, Pierre Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe
2002 - „Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
2001 - Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, USA
- „Kunst aus Zimbabwe. Kunst in Zimbabwe“, Iwalewa-Haus, Bayreuth, Deutschland
2000 - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Kapstadt, Südafrika
1999 - Gallery Alina, One Design Center Place, Suite 245, Massachusetts, USA
- Venedig Biennale, Venedig, Italien
1998 - „Coming of Age. Zeitgenössische Kunst aus Zimbabwe“, Neuer Kunstverein Aschaffenburg, Deutschland
- „Great Zimbabwe“, Hörlbachhof, Mondsee und Habari, Deutschland
1996 - „Zimbabwe Heritage 96: annual exhibition of contemporary visual arts“, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- „Sculpture from Zimbabwe“, Melbourne, Australien
- „Moderne Afrikanische Kunst. Stein-Skulpturen aus Zimbabwe“, Botanischer Garten Berlin, Deutschland
1995 - „Africus: Johannesburg Biennale 1995“, Johannesburg, Südafrika, 20. 4. 1995
- Sculpture from Zimbabwe, Schweden
- Group Exhibition, Pretoria Art
Museum, Südafrika
1994 - „Zimbabwe Heritage exhibition“, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- „Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture: The Second Generation“, Chapungu Sculpture Park, Wanderausstellung, England, Deutschland…
- „Moderne Afrikanische Kunst. Die Steinbildhauer aus Zimbabwe“, Palmengarten, Frankfurt, Deutschland
1993 - „Shave Artist's Workshop“, Open Studios, Somerset, England
- „Contemporary Printmakers Exhibition“, The Convent Gallery, England
1992 - „Expo '92“, Sevilla, Spanien
- „Happy Chrismas Africa“, Savannah Gallary, London, England
1991 - „British Defense an Aid Fund for Southern Africa Exhibition“, London, England
- „Artists Against apartheid“, London, England
1990 - „Art Images in Southern Africa“, Kulturhuset Stockholm, Schweden
- „„Contemporary Art from Southern Africa: Art from the Frontline“, Glasgow Art Gallery und Museum, Salford City Art Gallery, England und The City Centre, Dublin, Irland
- „Contemporary Stone Sculpture from Zimbabwe“, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, England, 22. 7. – 25. 11. 1990
1988 - „DAPP African exhibition“, Dänemark
- „Zimbabwe Heritage exhibition“, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
1986 - „Zimbabwe Heritage exhibition“, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
1984 - Nedlaw Annual Art exhibition, Harare, Zimbabwe
1983 - Nedlaw Annual Art exhibition, Harare, Zimbabwe
- „Internationale Sommer Akademie , Salzburg, Österreich
1982 - African Center, London, England
- Sibanda, Doreen, „Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture. A Retrospective 1957 – 2004“, Embassy of France & Weaver Press, Harare 2004, 148 S. mit farbigen Abbildungen
- Winter-Irving, Celia, „Chapungu. The Family“, Kapstadt, 2002
- Forum Aschaffenburg, „Coming of age: zeitgenössische Kunst aus Zimbabwe“, Städtische Galerie Jesuitenkirche, Aschaffenburg: 1998. 96 S., Farbabbildungen
- Chapungu Annual 1995, Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare, 1995
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe, „Zimbabwe Heritage 96: annual exhibition of contemporary visual arts, Harare, 1995, 43 S., Farbabbildungen
- Mawdsley, Joceline. Zimbabwe stone sculpture: the second generation : Dominic Benhura, Arthur Fata, Jonathan Gutsa, Tapfuma Gutsa, Kakoma Kweli, Wonder Luke, Colleen Madamombe, Fabian Madamombe, Eddie Masaya, Anderson Mukomberanwa, Alice Musarara, Joseph Muzondo, Agnes Nyanhongo, Gedion Nyanhongo, Brighton Sango, Norbert Shamuyarira, Staycot Tahwa, Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare, 1994, 48 S., Farbabbildungen
- Palmengarten/Chapungu Sculpture Park, „Moderne afrikanische Kunst. Die Steinbildhauer aus Zimbabwe“, Frankfurt/M., 1994, 52 S.
- Glasgow Art Gallery, „Contemporary Art from Southern Africa: Art from the Frontline“, Kaia Press, London 1990, Katalog 128 S.
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park, „Contemporary Stone Sculpture from Zimbabwe“, Yorkshire, 1990, 60 S., Farbabbildungen
- Mor, F., „Shona Sculpture“, Jongwe, Harare, 1987, 160 S.
- Chapungu Sculpture Garden, Harare
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare
- Kunst Transit Berlin
- Weitere Werke von Muzondo in Privatsammlungen in Nigeria, Österreich, Italien, Holland, Finnland, Deutschland