Sharing A Piece of Zimbabwe with the World

The Artist

Bronson was born in 1981 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He attended Ellis Robbins Boys’ High School where he
excelled in every subject but took special interest in art history.  Bronson credits his father, Temba
Gengezha, as his greatest inspiration to create beautiful works. From 1975 until his untimely death in
2001, Temba Gengezha’s sculptures were immensely popular and celebrated both locally and abroad for
their style and artistry.
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As a child, Bronson played with stones on the floor of his father’s
workshops but it wasn't until 1998, at the age of 17, that Bronson
began to sculpt stones and hone his artistic vision under the tutelage
of his father. Bronson’s inherent creativity is evident in the skill,
originality and attention to detail which is characteristic of his work
and is so often lacking in the pieces produced by formally trained
young people who study the Shona sculpting tradition in art school.
Bronson looks up to sculptors like Chituwa Jemali and Dominic
Benhura because of their unique style.

Bronson is most often inspired by nature, everyday life, and the bonds
of family. Presently, Bronson’s pieces can be found in galleries and
private collections in Germany, Canada, Australia, Holland, Japan,
South Africa, and most recently, the United States.
The Art

Bronson travels to the Kwekwe mines located 2 hours outside Harare to hand
select raw stones which are then transported to his home workshop. He prefers
to work with colorful stones such as Kwekwe serpentine, fruit serpentine,
verdite, and opal stones. As with most stones collected for the purpose of
sculpting, they are mined without the use of automotive tools. The raw stones
are then transformed using handmade tools such as the traditional mbezo,
rasper, and various handmade chisels and files. No electric tools are used in the
creative process.

Common themes in Bronson’s work include the mother and child, looking to the
future, introspection, and lovers. When talking about his relationship with the
medium of stone, Bronson says, “There is a hidden spirit inside the stone that
can be drawn out. Sometimes just by looking at the stone it can tell a story and
guide your hand.”
Family Ties

Bronson is not the only working artist in the family. His older cousins, brothers Jim Mwanza and Noel
Mwanza, also apprenticed under Temba Gengezha before launching their own careers. The cousins are
very supportive of each other's work and celebrate the successes that the family legacy has brought
several of its talented members.
Artist's Bio