Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude (b. 1988) has been named the 2024 FNB Joburg Art Prize winner, solidifying his position as one of the most influential contemporary African artists. The FNB Art Joburg fair, Africa’s longest-running contemporary art fair, opened earlier this month, continuing its tradition of fostering a vibrant art community that celebrates innovation and creativity across the continent. The fair has become a beacon for artists, curators, and collectors, dedicated to developing a commercial art industry that competes globally.

Nyaude’s winning work, titled “MCMLXXX,” is a magnificent oil painting rooted in the Neo-Expressionism movement. It features abstracted, distorted figures enveloped in deep, expressive brushstrokes, conveying intensity and emotion that speak to Nyaude’s mastery of the medium. The artwork delves into postmillennialism theory, critiquing the commercialization of ultimate or final things, often linked to religious or philosophical contexts.

“In political theory and theology, to immanentize the eschaton is generally a pejorative phrase referring to attempts to bring about utopian conditions in the world, effectively creating heaven on earth,” Nyaude explains. Through his work, he invites viewers to engage with complex societal and cultural forces, challenging the pursuit of idealism and its consequences in contemporary society.

Nyaude’s win at FNB Art Joburg places him alongside past winners like Kudzanai Chiurai and Portia Zvavahera, further cementing his place in the contemporary African art scene. His work, which intertwines personal experience, cultural heritage, and global discourse, exemplifies the profound impact African artists continue to make on the global art community.

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