Stanford Chanakira

Stanford was born in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, in 1984. He is the fourth born in a family of seven. Stanford started sculpting at the age of fourteen while he was still at school because he was interested in art.

He found he had a natural talent and when he left school six months later, due to financial constraints within the family, he decided to become a professional sculptor. He works very hard, sculpting large pieces at Chitungwiza Arts Centre during the day and working on smaller pieces at home during the evening.

Stanford was inspired by famous local artists such as Joe Mutasa and Lazarus Takawira, but he has never had a formal apprenticeship and is entirely self-taught. Amazingly for such a young artist, he not only helps support his family but also gives 10% of his income from sculpting to local charities for AIDS orphans and the disadvantaged in the community.

Stanford's work is outstandingly beautiful and he is a very popular artist. His natural talent shines through in every graceful and fluid piece; the attention to detail in the finish is always perfect, and he has the potential to become one of Zimbabwe's most famous sculptors of the future.