Itayi Mupumha

Itayi was born on the 18^th November 1975 in the Rusape district of Zimbabwe. He is the first born in a family of eight.

At the age of 11, when he had finished his primary schooling, he moved to the city of Chitungwiza where he did his secondary education to O-Levels in 1993.

In 1994, his uncle Richard Mupumha encouraged Itayi to start stone sculpting under his guidance. He served a two-year apprenticeship and was confident enough to strike out on his own to establish his name. At present he is a full-time sculptor with a wife and young child, working close to the Chitungwiza Arts Centre where his brother Onias is based.

Itayi's work has sold in countries like Germany, Italy, Britain, USA, Australia and South Africa. His work was featured in a joint exhibition at Msande Gallery in Berlin, Germany in 2001.

Itayi and his brother Onias have each established a distinctive personal style, separate from the work of their more famous uncle. They are very popular and talented young artists, and are highly likely to achieve recognition outside Zimbabwe in the near future.