Zvavahera’s Artwork Fetches US$280 000 In New York

The artwork by Zimbabwean artist Portia Zvavahera (inset) entitled “Vese Vakandibata” (They all gave me strength) that was auctioned in New York recently.

Arts Reporter

Zimbabwean visual artist Portia Zvavahera’s artwork was sold at US$280 000 at the popular Sothebys Auction House in New York City. The artwork dubbed “Vese Vakandibata” (They all gave me strength) was auctioned recently after being put on bid at an estimated US$150 000. It was bought on the higher bid by Lucius Elliot from Contemporary Art in New York. The video of the auction went viral on social media, with locals applauding Zvavahera for the great work and putting Zimbabwe on the map. Commenting on the latest development, National Art Gallery executive director Raphael Chikukwa said Zvavahera should be celebrated for working hard and was a good example to other artists. “This is important for the Zimbabwean art scene as we continue to make in-roads into the international art market,” he said. “As National Gallery of Zimbabwe, we are proud of our own artists whose footprints came from the formerly BAT Workshop studios, now National Gallery of Zimbabwe School of Visual Arts and Design.” Chikukwa said Zvavahera took art as a business, an example that should be emulated by other artists. ReadMore