Richard was born in 1947 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He showed artistic talent early, and encouraged by his brother Boira, he then attended workshops at the National Gallery in Harare and began to experiment with sculpture. His first work was exhibited in
the Annual Exhibition of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 1965.
Richard Mteki is now one of the most prominent and collectable names in Zimbabwean sculpture, and is considered asa first generation sculptor.
His sculpture has been commissioned for state buildings and as gifts for foreign dignitaries.
A recent public acknowledgement of his standing as a
Zimbabwean Artist of repute came in October 1982 when one of
his works was selected as the gift to be presented to the Nigerian
President by the Prime Minister Mugabe on his state visit to that
country. Many other distinguished visitors and art collectors have
acquired his work and he is currently one of the most successful
stone artists.
Major exhibitions include:
• 'Sculpture Contemporaines du Zimbabwe', Musée National des Arts Africains et Oceaniens, Paris (1990)
• 'Sten Skulptur Fran Zimbabwe', Millesgarden Museum, Sweden (1990)
• 'Soul in Stone', Perth and Sydney, Australia (1986)
• Retrospective Exhibition of Shona Sculpture,
• Zimbabwe House, London, UK (1981)
etc etc
In 1986 Mteki was commissioned by the Zimbabwean Government to create a piece for the National Sports Stadium in Harare, a piece depicting the Zimbabwe national bird. The sculpture was a massive undertaking, weighing over 1 ton and placed at the entrance to the stadium.
His unique style and clarity helped make him one of the most popular artists ever to hail from Zimbabwe.
His preferred medium is the rich, natural earth color of brown serpentine.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and even the late queen of England were collectors of his work.
24" x 7" x 8" and is 45 lbs.
