Luwanika Mlera

St. Louis, MO

Bio:

I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and I had interest in art from high school where I took a 2 year class in art. My class encompassed sketching and painting. My parents’ house in Harare is across from the house that was home to renowned artists Luckson Gutsa and Dominic Benhura. With other kids my age, we played at their house and helped to polish art pieces for “change”. During this time, I did not realize I was apprenticing as a stone sculptor. However, I digressed to pursue academic feats, which ultimately culminated in a PhD in Biochemistry. My brother, Goodson Mlera, went right in after completing high school and he was mentored by Luckson Gutsa. Goodson helped me rediscover my passion to “release the spirit of the stone” using hammer and chisel to carve serpentine stone. Our art is generally known as “Shona Art” and it is as diverse as the artists themselves. My pieces are mostly abstract and are inspired by natural lines as well as the endless diversity of form and shape. I love to express contrast in the same piece, and this is realized by polishing some parts, leaving others untouched as well as scutch hammer marks or pointed chisel lines. I am always keen to see the emotion evoked by my art when people look, and to have a discussion around it. I have sold my art in Tucson AZ, Chicago IL, and Missouri.