Description

Lawrence Nyemba, a resident of Victoria Falls, is renowned for his striking and impressive paintings. His story is an example of discovering passion and talent amidst adversity. Although Lawrence’s work is diverse, his portraits, especially those of women, have grown to be his most prized pieces. Lawrence has made an effort to capture the essence of African women in his artwork and to highlight their significant role in society as the glue that holds communities and families together.

Born in Marondera in 1991, Lawrence attended primary and secondary schools which did not have art as a subject, and his family did not see art as a career. Due to challenges in the country, Lawrence moved first to Kenya and then to Cape Town, South Africa, looking for job opportunities. In Cape Town, he was employed as a car cleaner.

Whilst cleaning a car, the customer requested for everything in her car to be thrown away, including a bag containing oil paint and a few brushes. Lawrence seized the opportunity and began teaching himself to paint. After some time, Lawrence decided to quit his job and focus on developing himself as an artist. Whilst it was not an easy entry into the industry, he has never looked back.

In 2014, with the news that he and his wife were expecting a baby, Lawrence returned home to Zimbabwe. On arrival in Victoria Falls, Lawrence realised the town was full of creative talent supported by tourism. His dedication and resilience paid off: tourists began to purchase his beautiful artworks, and today, after years of adversity, Lawrence has established himself as a respected artist.