Richie Madyira

Sculpture as Environment and Experience

Born in Harare in 1989, Madyira's colourful figurative paintings focus on the lives of people who have migrated across Africa in search of a better life. His colour palette doesn't fully mirror reality — it creates happiness and harmony — and he paints his fellow Zimbabweans and other immigrants in South Africa with the pride and joy they take in celebrating themselves after a hard week's work.

Madyira received a scholarship from British National Tobacco to study Visual Art & Design at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. He has exhibited internationally — including a tour across Germany under the title BLACK LOVE MATTERS — drawing global attention to the dignity and experience of African immigrants. Drawing on the hardships of his own childhood and immigrant experience, he strives to give hope and encourage people to free themselves from situations that derail progress.

Based In

Cape Town, South Africa (originally Harare, Zimbabwe)

Medium

Acrylic on canvas; oils; street art

Discipline

Figurative painting; mural / street art

Themes

African migration, joy as resistance, youth culture, dignity of working life, hope as political stance

Notable Exhibitions

BLACK LOVE MATTERS* (BLM) series (15 works, international audience); represented by The Artists Gallery, Cape Town; 1XRUN; AITY Gallery; Baz-Art; Rossouw Modern