Chicago Welcomes Zimbabwean Shona Sculpture Exhibition

The project represents a collaboration between Gallery Guichard, Donate Life Illinois, and several civic institutions, including the Chicago Park District and the Garfield Park Conservatory. By hosting sculptures in diverse neighborhoods, organizers aim to immerse the public in the creative process rather than presenting art as a static display. Zimbabwean artist Ishmael Chitiyo, whose work will eventually anchor the Field Museum's 2028 Africa Hall expansion, leads a group of featured sculptors that includes Chenjerai Chiripanyanga, Lovemore Bonjisi, and Tawanda Seremwe.

These artists draw creative direction from the mbira, a traditional musical instrument central to Shona spiritual life. According to gallery co-owners Andre and Frances Guichard, the exhibition functions as a bridge between Zimbabwean craftsmanship and American audiences. Following a series of inaugural receptions throughout September and October, the program will continue through early 2027. This initiative builds on years of cultural exchange, during which Gallery Guichard has facilitated the acquisition of hundreds of Shona works for both private and corporate collections in the United States.