Shona Thumb Sucker Carving Zimbabwe

Shona sculpture, originating from Zimbabwe, gained prominence after 1965 when Frank McEwan, the director of the Rhodes National Gallery, encouraged students to transition from painting to stone carving at his school established in 1956. Named after the Shona people, Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group, Shona sculpture blends traditional African styles with modernist influences. Crafted from stones like serpentine and soapstone using hand tools, these sculptures depict human figures or animals with smooth lines and abstract forms. Originating in the 1950s, Shona sculpture emerged as artists fused traditional African art with modernist movements like Cubism. The art form, with its unique aesthetic, has achieved international acclaim and significantly contributed to Contemporary art. Exhibited globally, Shona sculpture has become a vital element in preserving Zimbabwe's cultural identity and traditional African art forms for future generations.