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Top Billing paints with artist Portia Zvavahera
Top Billing meets painter Portia Zvavahera
As a child, Portia and her grandmother would describe their dreams to one another. Today her dreams inspire her work, and by painting them, she removes any negative energy and makes the association a positive one.
When painting at school, her classmates often found her work scary, and instead of taking offense, Portia realised it meant her work had an impact on those who viewed it.
It wasn’t until after school that she met someone from the National Gallery and realised she could make a career of her painting.
Today Portia works from her studio in Harare, and is happily married to sculptor Gideon Gomo, with whom she shares two children. Ironically, contentment doesn’t make her productive as an artist, and her best work often comes out of stressful periods. Her faith is a large part of her creative process, and God is often referenced in her work.
What is immediately clear is how freely Portia’s hand moves in creating the lines of each painting. This is why her works feel so dynamic and energetic. The spontaneous choice of colour fills each canvas with natural colour – not something too considered. Portia also has her own alternative to using lino printing plates.
She’s done artist residencies from London to Bangalore, and was recently chosen by the new Stevenson Gallery and Associate Director Lerato Bereng for their opening exhibit.
According to Lerato, Portia’s work is energetic, colourful and engaging, perfect for the opening of a new space. The gallery hopes to promote artists like Portia, and to celebrate the creative output of Africa.
Ms Zvavahera’s latest news is that she’s collecting fabric and printed materials from West Africa and started designing her own clothes. We can’t wait to see them!
