Art from Artists

I love buying art from the people that actually make it. I know the feeling of having something that I made bought from me and I have always gone home after that experience feeling satisfied that someone connected with my art enough to fork over money for it. Art gets made out of our identities, so when that connection occurs, it's like finding another person who sees the world in the same way you do.


While in Africa, I walked through the craft market in Livingstone, Zambia. It was mostly full of buy-and-sell African tchochkes. You know, carved hippos, wire and bead figures, giraffe spoons. But then I came across the booth of Zacharia Mukwira. I found these gorgeous paintings. They appear to be almost embossed. I guess he makes the carving, presses the paper down into it and then paints it. They have such depth. I had a great time choosing these three prints. I didn't even barter with him because I believe that artists should be allowed to state their own worth.



While we were talking, he said that he wanted to get his name known in the United States. I told him that I would post his work on my website, along with his email address. If you're interested in purchasing works from Zacharia, he can be reached at kentndhlovu@yahoo.com. I think that even if he sent an assortment to you blindly, you'd be happy with it. I loved everything in his booth.