Chemedu Jemali (b. 1971) Zimbabwean, Stunning African Shona Gazelle Sculpture. Serpentine stone. Signed at bottom on back. Smooth and shining set of gazelles on one side, rough brown rock on the other, all one piece. 

Condition: Commensurate with age. Small chip on bottom. 

Size: 11 1/2 x 7 x 27 in. 

#3715 

Chemedu Jemali was born on March 3rd, 1971 in Harare, where he did his primary education. He and his family then moved to the Shamva township where he completed high school. His family is originally from Malawi and their totem is of the Miranzi (mouse). Chemedu’s work focuses on stylized and abstracted figuration, ranging from spirit birds to stylized busts. Chemedu took an interest in carving in the early 1990s, inspired by the success of his older brother, Chituwa, and became an established carver. Initially, he worked as an apprentice to Chituwa who introduced him to carving the local hard stone such as verdite, springstone, cobalt and lemon opal. His other brother, Salim, is also a full time sculptor. He has become a well known artist not only in the Shona Art Movement, but also in Europe. In 2002 he held four exhibition workshops in Germany (Rhauderfern, Steinfurt, Stadhuishal Hengelo, and Techlenburg), and the following year he held an exhibition in the Chiefs and Spirit Gallery in Den Haag, Netherlands, during which all his displayed works were sold. In 1995 Chemedu married Tendai Pintu, and together they have a boy and a girl. A quiet and reclusive artist, he rarely grants interviews, but enjoys following his favorite soccer team, the local Dynamos.

Commensurate with age. Small chip on bottom.