Moffat Takadiwa b. 1983

Moffat Takadiwa (b. 1983, Hurungwe, Zimbabwe, where he lives and works) in is one of the most prominent artists to emerge in post-revolution Zimbabwe. Takadiwa has gained international recognition for his work addressing contemporary consumer culture and colonialism; by appropriating discarded everyday objects such as computer keyboards, toothpaste tubes, bottle caps, and other plastic waste that he collects from recycling centers and landfills, the artist transforms them into sculptures and wall pieces. Takadiwa is also a founder of Mbare Art Space in Harare where he plays a major role in mentoring the growing artist community, establishing the world's first artistic center dedicated to repurposing reclaimed materials. By combining industrial objects with manual sewing techniques, his works result in rich compositions of color, form, and texture. These carefully crafted pieces evoke tapestry while pointing to a world interconnected by consumption. Through this process, Takadiwa challenges colonialism, its contemporary continuities, and its environmental consequences.

Takadiwa has exhibited at Watson Galleries, Washington & Lee University, Nicodim, New York, 36th Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Latvian Museum of Art, Riga, Nicodim Annex, Los Angeles, Galeria Nicodim, Bucharest, Mumok, Vienna, the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale exhibition, curated by Adriano Pedrosa, Venice, Galerie Edouard Manet, Centre d’art contemporain, Gennevilliers, Orange County Museum of Art, Southern Guild, Los Angeles, Nicodim, New York, Semiose, Paris, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Superposition Gallery, Phillips Auction House, Los Angeles, Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort, Musée d’art contemporain de la Haute-Vienne – château de Rochechouart, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, ARoS Museum, Denmark, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, Museum Arnhem, Arnhem, Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai, Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden, Marrakech and Museum for Contemporary Art Leipzig.