Chapungu Sculpture Park

The Chapungu Sculpture Park^[1] is a sculpture garden in Msasa, Harare, Zimbabwe, which displays the work of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. Spanning over 15 acres of landscaped gardens, the park is dedicated to showcasing the heritage of African stone sculpture.

History

Chapungu Sculpture Park was established in 1970 by Roy Guthrie as the Gallery Shona Sculpture. Guthrie played a pivotal role in promoting the work of Zimbabwean sculptors internationally. His efforts led to numerous exhibitions, including a touring show titled Chapungu: Custom and Legend — A Culture in Stone, which featured sculptures in botanical gardens around the world.

The places visited include:^[2]^{: 156–173}

(1999) Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa
(2000) Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew,^[3] London, United Kingdom,
(2001) Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, USA
(2001) Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Superior, USA
(2002) Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, USA
(2003) Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, USA
(2003) Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago USA
(2004) Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, USA

Artists

Among the artists whose works can be seen at the park are:

Chapungu Sculpture Center

The park also houses the Chapungu Sculpture Centre, which hosts an important residency program and plays a crucial role in shaping the careers of young sculptors.^[2]^: 47 The center offers a residency program that gives emerging artists the opportunity to work alongside established sculptors and learn from their expertise. Additionally, the HAYA Cooperative—a collective of artists based at Chapungu—actively contributes to the park’s artistic community.

Expansion

In 2007, Chapungu Sculpture Park expanded to Loveland, Colorado, with the establishment of another park and gallery.

References

^ "Home". chapungusculpturepark.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
^ ^a ^b Winter-Irving, Celia (2004). Pieces of Time: An anthology of articles on Zimbabwe's stone sculpture published in The Herald and Zimbabwe Mirror 1999–2000. Zimbabwe: Mambo Press. ISBN 0-86922-781-5.
^ Catalogue published by Chapungu Sculpture Park, 2000, 136pp printed in full colour, with photographs by Jerry Hardman-Jones and text by Roy Guthrie (no ISBN)