Aron Kapembeza

Aron Kapembeza is one of Zimbabwe’s most successful and most represented artists. Born in 1982, he is primarily a self-taught sculptor. His artistic talent was evident from the early age of 16 and, through perseverance and dedication, he has become one of Zimbabwe’s leading springstone sculptors. Aron maintains his studio gallery and sculpture garden in New Tafara, Harare.

An encounter with Colleen Madamombe’s unfinished “Motherhood” struck a chord in him. He discovered he could see the finished sculpture hidden in the springstone, and from that moment a transformation began that shaped the soul of an artist. Colleen Madamombe, his aunt and an established sculptor, introduced him to the medium of stone, taught him to appreciate the details of nature and taught him the rudiments of sculpting. She encouraged him to carve larger stones; during these early years he carved off-cuts and gradually developed his own style.

Since then, Aron’s desire to create has been continuous and prolific. His passion for the human form has led to his own expressive style: womanhood from tender ages to motherhood, seen in a wide range of sculptures from stylised to representational. He sold his first professional artwork at the age of eighteen.

“I like to sculpt representational pieces,” Aron says. “It is very gratifying to transform rough springstone into a shape that I can find in the heart of the stone.” He does not consult books and has no fine-art school training. “It’s my own work. Once I select the rough springstone I need, I let my mind and feelings, coupled with the intrinsic character of the stone, control the final image. In most cases, the structure of the stone determines the design.”

Viewers cannot resist the urge to run their hands over Aron’s sculptures. He strives to create work that seduces the eye, stirs the soul and invites touch, carving as much detail as he can without sacrificing the flowing, graceful lines that typify his style.

A widely collected artist, his work can be found in private, corporate and public collections in Europe and Africa, with 40 exhibitions to his credit. He is one of the stone sculptors to have had a solo exhibition in the Netherlands, and was the first to give sculpting lessons in Europe. In July 2007 Aron travelled to the Netherlands and worked at the renowned studio Gallery De Buffel for three months. He works from his home, where his knowledge and skill influence local and international apprentices, and he is passionate about sharing his work with patrons.