Kresiah Mukwazhi
born 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Kresiah Mukwazhi's work advocates for the visibility and rights of women who are discriminated against in patriarchal societies. Through visual activism, she explores the power dynamics within the female body through installations, performances, videos, and vibrant textile collages. In her latest series, she explores the underlying structures of systemic violence and deconstructs narratives that marginalize women in Zimbabwean society. By challenging cultural norms and taboos, Mukwazhi highlights the importance of addressing latent forms of patriarchy and systemic violence. Her work expresses a commitment to solidarity, empowerment, and care for marginalized communities and provides a platform for resistance and self-empowerment.
Her works have been exhibited internationally at venues like the Museum Ludwig, Cologne; Nottingham Contemporary; the Secession, Vienna; the Philara Foundation, Dusseldorf; Cape Town; the Zimbabwean Pavilion, 59th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia; the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg; the Norval Foundation, Cape Town; the South African National Gallery, Cape Town; the Iziko Museums, Cape Town; the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), Cape Town; the Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision; the SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin at Njelele Art Station, Harare, Zimbabwe; and The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo.
Gallery exhibitions
Institutional exhibitions
Press
Vita
1992 born, Harare, ZWE
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023 Kirawa, Secession, Vienna Kirawa, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
2022 Ndakamira pamukaha (Standing my ground till it cracks), Jan Kaps, Cologne
2021 Zviratidzo, blank projects, Cape Town
2020 Mukando, Jan Kaps, Cologne
2018 Bedroom Interview, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 I’ve only got eyes for you, Philara Foundation, Dusseldorf Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York
2022 Zimbabwean Pavilion, 59th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia Empowerment, Planetarische Feminismen, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg
2021 OFF ROAD II, Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp Mixed Company, Norval Foundation, Cape Town
2020 Love your symptoms but not too much, blank projects, Cape Town Materiality, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town
2019 African Textures. Jeanne Gaigher, Kresiah Mukwazhi, Marlene Steyn, Osart Gallery, Milan, Italy The Female Line, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa Conversations in Texture, Berman Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa Legitimate Expectations, Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa Not the Usual Suspects, Iziko Museums, Cape Town, South Africa Five Bhobh – Painting at the End of an Era, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), Cape Town, South Africa Prism of Freedom, Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision
2018 Legitimate Expectations, The Market Photo Workshop, Johannesburg PARA_OTHER, with Performance, Take me back to Osibisa (with blood on my hands), Chale Wote Street Art Festival, Accra
2017 That, Around Which the Universe Revolves, Kapitel 3 - Harare, SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin at Njelele Art Station, Harare, Zimbabwe
2016 My Private Moments, The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2020 Institute for Creative Arts (ICA) fellowship with Performance, Zvisarira, Cape Town
2018 Research Residency ANT Mobility Grant, Pro Helvetia
RESIDENCIES AND PERFORMANCES
2019 Arts of Africa and Global Souths, Rhodes University with Performance, Summoned from Luzari, Makhanda Nafasi Art Space with Performance, Pamuchakata, Dar es Salaam
2018 Katutura Art Centre, Windhoek, Namibia supported by ANT Mobility Grant, Pro Helvetia
SYMPOSIUMS
2019 Live Art Workshop, The Institute of Creative Arts at the University of Cape Town
2018 Radical Histories II, Katutura Art Centre in Windhoek, Namibia Activists Jam Session, supported by ActionAid International, Dar es Salaam