Spier Arts Trust Artist Shines at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London

The zumbani flower – the bloom of the ‘wonder herb’ fevertea tree, Lippia javanica – is an important totem in the works of Zimbabwean artist Tafadzwa Tega, whose bold and colorful paintings, often accompanied by intricate floral backgrounds inspired by the flower, explore topics such as cultural identity, faith and customs, and the impact of migration and displacement. His brightly colored portraits stood out at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, garnering positive feedback from international art lovers and critics alike.

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is the only international art fair dedicated to contemporary African and African diaspora art. Nando’s and the Spier Arts Trust will return as sponsors to the acclaimed fair in 2022, bringing Tega’s work to this international stage. Tega was in the company of 130 artists from 50 international galleries, including established artists such as Ibrahim El-Salahi, Hassan Hajjaj, and South Africa’s own Zanele Muholi, as well as fellow newcomers Sola Olulode and Pedro Neves.

Tega was invited to participate in Spier Arts Trust’s Creative Block program, in which artists interprets blocks of specific sizes in any way they choose, using any medium and focusing on any subject. The best blocks are curated and purchased, and some of these become part of the Nando’s collection. This gave Tega the chance to sell his art locally and gradually build up confidence in his practice.

Tega has participated in several group and solo exhibitions across South Africa, including Africa without Borders at Gallery MOMO in Cape Town in 2019, and with Everard Read at FNB Art Joburg in 2022. Internationally, the Zimbabwean artist’s work has been shown at JD Malat Gallery in London, Mimmo Scognamiglio in Milan and Gallery Daisy on Jeju Island on South Korea.

We look forward to seeing Tega continue to grow his artistic practice and flourish on the international stage.