CHICAGO, United States — September 2, 2026 (XOL Africa) — Zimbabwean stone sculpture is taking centre stage in Chicago through “Soul of the Stone,” an eight-month cultural and artistic programme showcasing the country’s renowned Shona sculpture tradition and strengthening links between Zimbabwean artists and international audiences.
Organised by Gallery Guichard in partnership with Donate Life Illinois and a number of Chicago cultural institutions, the programme features more than 150 Shona sculptures across several locations in the city through early 2027.
At the centre of the initiative is internationally recognised Zimbabwean sculptor Ishmael Chitiyo, who has been commissioned to create a stone sculpture for the Field Museum’s new Africa Hall, scheduled to open in 2028.
The commission provides an important international platform for Zimbabwe’s contemporary stone-carving tradition, while connecting the work of individual artists with one of the United States’ major natural history museums.
Bringing Zimbabwe’s stone tradition to Chicago
The Soul of the Stone programme aims to give Chicago audiences an opportunity to engage with Shona sculpture beyond the finished artwork, exploring the cultural and spiritual ideas associated with stone carving among the Shona people.
Participating artists include Ishmael Chitiyo, Chenjerai (Clever) Chiripanyanga, Lovemore Bonjisi, Owen Mlungisi and Tawanda Seremwe, among others.
Their works draw inspiration from the mbira, a traditional Shona musical instrument that holds deep cultural significance. The instrument’s music is traditionally associated with communication with ancestors and spiritual expression, themes that have also influenced generations of Zimbabwean artists.
Gallery Guichard co-owners Andre and Frances Guichard said the exhibition is intended to allow visitors to experience the process and cultural meaning behind Shona stone sculpture rather than simply viewing completed pieces.
From Zimbabwe to the global art market
The Chicago exhibition also highlights the growing international market for Zimbabwean sculpture.
Gallery Guichard said that during its first journey to Zimbabwe, it acquired more than 150 sculptures and subsequently placed more than 120 works into private and corporate collections in the United States. A more recent acquisition involved more than 170 additional sculptures.
The movement of these works into international collections creates opportunities for Zimbabwean artists to reach new collectors while increasing visibility for a distinctive African artistic tradition.
For Zimbabwe, where stone carving has developed into an internationally recognised contemporary art form, exhibitions such as Soul of the Stone also demonstrate the potential of cultural exports to contribute to the country’s creative economy.
Exhibition spreads across Chicago
Rather than being confined to one gallery, the eight-month programme is being presented across several Chicago cultural and public institutions.
The participating venues include the Garfield Park Conservatory, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Gallery Guichard, South Shore Cultural Center and the Field Museum.
The Field Museum event is scheduled for October 3, following earlier openings at the other participating venues.
The multi-location format is designed to bring the sculptures into different Chicago communities and neighbourhoods while exposing wider audiences to Zimbabwean culture.
Strengthening Africa’s cultural presence abroad
The initiative comes as African artists and cultural institutions increasingly seek international platforms that move beyond conventional representations of the continent.
By placing contemporary Zimbabwean sculpture in galleries, public cultural spaces and a major museum environment, Soul of the Stone offers a window into Zimbabwe’s artistic heritage while creating direct links between African creators, collectors and international cultural institutions.
Gallery Guichard, based in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighbourhood, has spent more than two decades showcasing artists from across the African Diaspora through exhibitions, educational programmes and international cultural exchanges.
For the Zimbabwean artists participating in Soul of the Stone, the Chicago programme represents both an opportunity to expand their global audience and a chance to place Shona artistic traditions within an international contemporary-art conversation.
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