by Solomon Mahlatini
From the earliest days of my childhood in Zimbabwe, art has been an intrinsic part of my life. Growing up in Kwekwe, I attended Goldridge, a private school where my passion for art began to take shape. My love for art is deeply rooted in my maternal lineage. My mother, a skilled sketch artist, and her siblings, who were talented painters, kindled my curiosity and desire to explore the world of art.
In 2011, I made the life-changing decision to emigrate to the USA to study filmmaking and television production at Columbia College Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. However, after two years, I realized my true calling was in fine art. I moved to Washington D.C., where my journey as a professional artist began under the mentorship of my manager, Peter Jones. My first solo exhibition, "Solomon Sees 1," was held in Georgetown, Washington D.C., marking the beginning of a series of solo exhibitions across the United States, including cities like Detroit, Oklahoma, Dallas, Atlanta, and at the renowned Peg Alston Fine Arts Gallery in New York.
In 2015, I decided to complete my degree at East Central University in Oklahoma. During my time there, I had the honor of serving as the Art Club President and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Practice. Under the guidance of Oklahoman painter Brad Jessop, I honed my skills in painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, and various forms of sculpture, including ceramics, woodwork, glasswork, metalwork, and soft sculptures.
My dedication and hard work were recognized through several accolades, including the O. Gail Poole Travel Grant, which allowed me to visit Mexico and explore the works of one of my artistic inspirations, Frida Kahlo. I also received the Curator’s Choice Award at Momentum Oklahoma, hosted at the Gold Dome in Oklahoma City.
My art is a reflection of the human experience, exploring themes of identity, connectivity, and the multifaceted nature of our existence. Inspired by my Zimbabwean and South African heritage, particularly the Xhosa culture of my mother, my work often incorporates surrealistic aesthetics with a touch of hyper-realism. I delve into the trials, tribulations, love, sorrow, and the quest to understand our origins as humans.
One of my proudest moments was being a finalist for the Stanford University MFA program, selected from over 800 candidates worldwide. In 2020, I was honored to be the first live artist at the Africa Development Conference at Harvard Law School, where my painting "KUBATANA," meaning "unity" in Shona, was auctioned and purchased by Jewish-South African billionaire Ivor Ichikowitz. That same year, I became the first African and Zimbabwean artist chosen as a live artist at the Washington Performing Arts Gala, held at the prestigious Smithsonian National Building Museum in Washington D.C.
Currently, my work is represented by Africa World Art Gallery in Washington D.C.
In 2024, I founded ZUNDE ART HUB, a platform dedicated to giving visibility to emerging Zimbabwean and African artists. ZUNDE ART HUB aims to provide these artists with opportunities to showcase their work internationally, build a strong collector portfolio, and secure gallery representation. Through partnerships with galleries, curators, residency programs, and other private entities, we strive to foster a sense of local art appreciation in Zimbabwe and promote art as a viable profession, enabling artists to sustain themselves solely through their art.
My journey as an artist has been shaped by a deep passion for exploring the human condition and a commitment to uplifting fellow artists from my homeland. As I continue to evolve and grow, I remain dedicated to using my art as a vehicle for connection, understanding, and unity.
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