FNB Art Joburg, Africa’s leading contemporary art fair, supports and grows the continent’s cultural offerings beyond the fair through its annual FNB Art Prize, which has announced Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude as the winner.
The 2024 FNB Art Prize jury, consisting of Kim Kandan, Lezanne Viviers, and Mfundi Vundla, praised Nyaude’s work for its balance of hope and political resistance.
“There is a compelling balance between hope and political resistance in Gresham’s work. His adept use of satire allows him to navigate and illuminate complex, often contentious, topics with a nuanced approach that invites viewers to engage critically.
“Additionally, his commitment to the medium is evident in his technique and his sophisticated use of colour. This control over brushwork not only showcases his technical skills but also enhances the expressive power of his work.”
Winning the coveted FNB Art Prize, Nyaude joins previous winners Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Dada Khanyisa, Wycliffe Mundopa, Lady Skollie, Bronwyn Katz, Haroon Gunn-Salie, Peju Alatise, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Turiya Magadlela, Portia Zvavahera,Nelisiwe Xaba, Mocke J van Veuren, Kudzanai Chiurai, and Cedric Nunn.
Speaking about the win, Faye Mfikwe, FNB chief marketing officer, said: “We congratulate Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude on winning the 2024 FNB Art Prize. The FNB Art Prize has become one of the most coveted art prizes on the African continent.
“As a brand, we remain focused on supporting the creative economy and ensuring that contemporary African art remains a consistent player in the global art landscape.
“We are immensely proud of our long-standing sponsorship of FNB Art Joburg and also of the FNB Art Prize, which, for many of the winning artists, have served as a steppingstone on the road to being recognised by the international art scene.”
Nyaude, a Harare artist, uses figuration, abstraction, and hallucination to express the energy of his neighbourhood, where 70% of the population is under 30.
His images challenge characterisation, capturing the generation’s relentless pursuit of dignity and quality of life, despite the seemingly unattainable goals.
Following Mundopa, Zvavahera and Chiurai, Nyaude fortifies Zimbabwe’s contemporary contribution to African mastery in the medium of painting.
Nyaude’s work, spanning over 16 years, has gained international recognition and is housed in various museums and private collections.
In 2018, he presented a major body of work in the US as part of “Songs for Sabotage” at the New Museum Triennial.
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za