The Top Art Galleries in Zimbabwe

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is probably the most recognized gallery in the country. It is dedicated to preserve and conserve Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and visual heritage. Opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1957 when Zimbabwe was still under the British rule, the gallery is located right in Harare’s Central Business District. The gallery has permanent art collections and there are several exhibitions that take place year round.

Located in a beautiful garden near Harare’s Robert Mugabe International Airport, the Shona Sculpture Gallery is made up of works that depict the lives of the indigenous people before the colonial era. On display are works by the best of the contemporary Zimbabwean sculptors. These exceptional artworks are exhibited in a stunning garden setting, an oasis of beauty and tranquility that visitors will adore.

The First Floor Gallery, Harare, is the first independent contemporary gallery run by emerging artists in Zimbabwe. Founded in 2009, the gallery is situated in Harare’s busy inner city center. Showcasing the artwork of rising and promising contemporary Zimbabwean artists, the gallery supports their professional development by giving them exposure to local and international audiences, facilitating art workshops and classes, and serving as an interactive experimental space. The First Floor Gallery hosts a number of interesting exhibitions throughout the year featuring local artists such as Moffat Takadiwa, Wycliffe Mundopa, and Mavis Tauzeni. Over the past few years, it has quickly become an important venue for fine arts, film, poetry, and music events.

Located in Harare, the National Handicraft Centre showcases an exciting collection of Zimbabwean crafts handmade by artistes from Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.

Located in Zimbabwe’s tourism hub, Victoria Falls, the Prime Art Gallery prides itself in selling artworks made from recycled materials such as elephants made of bottle caps, a rhino made of crushed cans, a house made of plastic caps, dragons made of aluminium cans, and a variety of rolled magazine crafts, including place mats, mirrors, and necklaces.

Tsoko Arts Gallery focuses on mixed media works by Zimbabwean artists and is located in the Doon Estate complex. Doon Estate was founded over 20 years ago and became the place to go for visitors who wanted to acquire genuine pieces of arts. For many locals, Doon Estate is the place to pick up unexpected treasures like books, honey, and homemade jam during the exhibitions.

The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe is home to extensive displays of history, geology, animals, birds and insects, and holds as a major source for scientific and educational activities and embraces a comprehensive library and exhibition galleries. The Natural History Museum in Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s largest museum. This circular building has its ground floor dedicated to natural history and geology, while the first floor focuses on human history.