John Gutsa (b. 1978) Zimbabwean, Breathtaking Floating Figural African Shona Sculpture. Two feminine faces in shining dark color seem to hover above a flat base in a lighter color, with even lighter color lined hair surrounds them, with a rough back, all amazingly carved from one piece. Signed on back of base. 

Condition: Minor scratches overall. 

Size: 24 x 6 1/2 x 20 1/4 in. 

#3718 . 

John Gutsa was born on January 11th, 1978 in Murewa, Zimbabwe. He is the younger brother of Jonathan Gutsa and cousin of Tapfuma Gutsa, both considered important exponents of Shona art sculpture as well. As a child he enjoyed arts and crafts, surrounded by his family’s works, and after finishing school he went to Harare to learn to carve alongside Jonathan. In Harare he worked at the Utonga Studio in New Tafara and was joined by his other brothers Luckson, Daniel and Alfred. Simultaneously he pursued a degree in hotel and restaurant management, and worked for the Red Fox Hotel for one month before deciding to leave and focus solely on art. In 2000 he joined the Dominic Benhura studio, working as an apprentice to his brother Jonathan. He eventually learnt the full range of skills needed to become a full time sculptor, and set off on his own to create his own style. In 2003 he exhibited his Shona sculptures for the first time at the Alliance Francaise and the Zimbabwean German Society in Harare. In 2009 his work was part of a group exhibition with Stone Dynamics Gallery in Zurich, Switzerland at the Susi Brunner Galerie, which led to him being considered one of the foremost young artists in the movement. In 2014 he opened his own studio and gallery in Harare to present his works and represent the works of others who study under him.

Minor scratches overall.