Mercy Moyo, Large African Playing Cards Collage Painting Mercy Moyo Zimbabwe Woman Artist, 2018

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Mercy Moyo (Zimbabwe, 1980-) Portrait of Standing Figure Mixed Media Collage Assemblage collage with charcoal and paint. Hand signed l.r. … Read more Mercy Moyo (Zimbabwe, 1980-) Portrait of Standing Figure Mixed Media Collage Assemblage collage with charcoal and paint. Hand signed l.r. Mercy Moyo. Dimensions: 49 1/2 x 35 1/4 in. Framed: 52 1/4 x 38 1/4 in. Mercy Moyo is a nationally exhibited artist from Harare, Zimbabwe. Moyo’s creative journey is influenced by her childhood memories of time spent collecting barks from trees to use for dying fibers and mixing colors for weaving baskets with her grandmother. As they’d work, her grandmother would tell fairytales, inspiring Moyo to weave storytelling into her artwork. Moyo uses visual art to tell the story of her life, of contemporary Southern African life. Her artwork depicts ordinary people in everyday environments, exploring human behavior and its context in expressive lines, vibrant colors, and traditional African motifs. Moyo's artistic practice lends its energy to her exploration of gender, coloniality, wealth disparities, political conflict, and resource allocation. Moyo explores gender, identity, coloniality, wealth disparities and resource allocation. Although her endless search into human behavior and its context is energetically expressed in vibrant colors and traditional African motifs, her paintings also call into question the wide range of her experiences living and working in countries affected by harsh social and political conflicts her use of iconic imagery of contemporary Zimbabwean women and children. This piece explores the role of women as a source of stability and the keeper of cultural inheritance. Her work interprets the beauty of real African women in traditional garments, long skirts, heads nicely wrapped, and humility in check. Moyo studied at the Peter Birch School of Art and Design, graduated from the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design in 2003, and obtained a diploma in Photography from the ZIPAC (Zimbabwe Institute of Photographers) in 2010. She was included in the exhibition Rwendo Rwechokwadi: A Journey of Truth Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa. "Rwendo Rwechokwadi" brings together an exceptional group of artists whose works invite us to embark on a profound exploration of authenticity, resilience, and identity. This exhibition is more than a showcase of Zimbabwean art; it is a conversation—a journey—about truth in its many forms: personal, cultural, and collective. The works are bold expressions of integrity, shaped by their lived experiences and cultural heritage. From navigating the challenges of diaspora to reflecting socio-political realities, their art reveals the deep connection between individual journeys and larger societal transformations. The thematic core of this exhibition revolves around resilience and transformation, as the artists celebrate the strength and adaptability of the Zimbabwean spirit. Their works echo stories of overcoming adversity and finding meaning in the face of challenges. Diaspora and belonging emerge as central themes, with many artists reflecting on the dual perspective of being away from home—both an opportunity to connect with their roots and a space to forge new identities within a broader global context. This tension and harmony of belonging resonates throughout the exhibition. Freedom of expression is a powerful undercurrent, as the artists navigate and critique socio-political struggles, addressing themes of power, governance, and societal change, even while creating from afar. Cultural heritage and emotional maturity are explored through the motivations of a younger generation of artists, who carry forward a rich legacy while asserting their place in the contemporary art world. Artists on show: Kufa Makwavarara, Lionel Mbayiwa, Mercy Moyo, Ronald Muchatuta, Tafadzwa Tega. Zimbabwean-born visual artist and collagist Mercy Moyo shares, “Art and creativity have always been part of my life. As a child, I would observe my grandmother weaving baskets that were the main source of livelihood for the family. Fascinated by the techniques involved in patterns, designs and her skill of making each basket unique despite similar materials and colors. Through my observation, I realized that the more she made, the more creativity emerged from the process.” From this experience, Mercy began to draw at a very young age. Her drawings describe the world around her and tell the story of life in contemporary Africa, specifically through women figures. This narrative is prominent in her artistic practice, where her images are primarily collages, incorporating objects that complement and reinforce the depicted images. She uses various mediums, including oil, acrylics, charcoal, pencil, and recently, smoke from candles. These diverse mediums help create vibrant images of contemporary women in Zimbabwe today, expressing their lived realities, aspirations, and dreams. Ultimately, Mercy uses art as a fundamental element in depicting the beauty of African women, whether they come from rural or urban contexts. She emphasizes that she does not consider herself a feminist but wants to portray the real African woman—comfortable in her self-identity, wearing long skirts, with a fuller figure, and head nicely covered. Mercy has participated in group and solo exhibitions in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United States of America. These experiences have significantly influenced her work through encounters with the lived realities of different societies. For example, the young men working in the mines of South Africa, who live underground and surface only to socialize and sleep at night, inspired her experimentation with male figures. She captures the lives of these miners using charcoals and working in hues of black and brown, reflecting the loneliness and individualism associated with their daily lives, unlike most of her works, which depict people in community dialogues and deep conversations. Who are your favorite printmakers/artists and inspirations? Käthe Kollwitz, German artist did a print called “Besuch im Krankenhaus” (1929). She would work with things that were taking place during her lifetime and I believe it correlates to my life and how we lose our loved ones each time and the moments that need to be recorded by an artist. Elizabeth Catlett’s art piece “Survivor”, the texture of the movements made by the tool to create the form of the art piece. William Kentridge, a South African artist who majors in drawing in his work, and the way he draws and erases and creates a sense of motion in the work Curlee Raven Holton and Bisa Jackson etc. MERCY MOYO Born 27 November 1980 in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe In her education Mercy achieved A's in both her 'A' level qualification at secondary level (Dzivarasekwa High 1 between 1994-1998) and her 'O' level qualification at Tertiary level (Peter Birch School of Art and Design and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Visual Art studios). She also studied with ZIPAC (Zimbabwe institute of photographers) and obtained a diploma in Photogrphy in 2010. WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES 2003 Africare HIV and AIDS workshop (Harare) Gwanza photography workshop (Harare) 2004 Gwanza photography workshop Animation workshop (National gallery of Zimbabwe) 2005 Outreach workshops to schools UMOJA workshop in Mozambique Stone sculptors “workshop ( National Gallery of Zimbabwe ) 2006 Still life study workshops ( National Gallery of Zimbabwe) 2007 Residency artist (National art gallery of Zimbabwe (2006-2007) Viva networks workshop HARARE Domboramwari workshop National Gallery of Zimbabwe Art appreciation in schools National Gallery of Zimbabwe Greatmore studios (Cape Town) Vansa workshop in (Cape Town) Outreach with kids little buddies (Cape Town) Thupelo workshop (Cape Town South Africa) Women workshop and exhibition (coordinator) 2008 Printmaking workshop (Cape Town) Women workshop and exhibition (coordinator), Harare Thupelo workshop (South Africa) 2010 Inaska( Lusaka) (Zambia) 2011 Thupelo workshop AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS 2006 Nominated for the National arts Merit Awards (NAMA) In the category of 2 dimensional work The award winner for the (NAMA) 2 dimensional works 2006 (first female to win the award in the 2 dimensional work) 2007 Junior chambers nominee (Vinoriah \ Vinonah the new bride) Work selected for the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe 2008 Donated a painting for the greatmore furaising project 2009 Modern Art of Zimbabwe (Czech Republic) SPECIILIZATION I specialize in painting, printmaking, sculpture, textile design and photography EXHIBITIONS 2003 HIV and paintings Chitungwiza art arts and craft center 2004 Final year exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Gwanza Photography exhibition NGZ 2005 Valentine exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe HIV and AIDS exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Gwanza photography National Gallery of Zimbabwe David Peach David Peach Resident Young master’s exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Final year students’ exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Art for hope Harare international school World bank exhibition Harare UMOJA exhibition Peach residence 2006 Occasional exhibition Richard Renee Gwanza photography exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Art for Hope Maputo Mozambique Valentine exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Old masters exhibitions Bulawayo Czech Republic exhibition Czech Republic Art for hope Harare international school Africancolours exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Christmas exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe COMESA EXHIBITION Zambia 2007 Crest a lodge exhibition Harare Verandah exhibition Harare Two women show National Gallery of Mutare Residency exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Domboramwari exhibition National Gallery of Zimbabwe Greatmore studios residency exhibition (Cape Town) South Africa. Crestar lodge exhibition Harare 2008 Caritas Academy NJ United States Of America Jeckyling gallery NJ U.SA Alcatel Lucent NJ U .S.A Group exhibition Knopio Finland Mona Lisa gallery NJ U.S.A Cottco exhibition National art gallery of Zimbabwe 2009 'In my life', Livingstone Zambia Hibernation exhibition, HIFA Harare international festival of the arts 2010 ‘Life and Environment’ lnsaka, Lusaka, Zambia ‘Food for thoughts’ (group exhibition) National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Dzimbanhete, Harare 2011 Thupelo Greatmore Studios ‘Hope and despair’ National art gallery of Zimbabwe See less