‘Soul of the Stone’ Brings Zimbabwean Shona Sculpture to Chicago

Soul of the Stone Zimbabwe Chicago exhibition connects African Diaspora art, cultural exchange and a new Field Museum commission

An Eight-Month Cultural Journey

Gallery Guichard and Donate Life Illinois are presenting Soul of the Stone, an eight-month cultural and artistic initiative celebrating Zimbabwe’s Shona stone-sculpture tradition across Chicago. Partners include the Field Museum, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago Park District, Garfield Park Conservatory, South Shore Cultural Center and Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network.

Ishmael Chitiyo Commissioned for the Field Museum

Zimbabwean sculptor Ishmael Chitiyo has been commissioned to create a stone sculpture for the Field Museum’s new Africa Hall, scheduled to open in 2028. The broader exhibition features Zimbabwean artists including Chenjerai Chiripanyanga, Lovemore Bonjisi, Owen Mlungisi and Tawanda Seremwe.

Connecting Zimbabwe and Chicago

The project draws attention to the cultural traditions surrounding Shona sculpture and the artists’ relationship with the mbira, a traditional instrument with deep spiritual significance. Gallery Guichard, based in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, has spent 21 years presenting artists from across the African Diaspora and building connections between artists, collectors and communities.

A Growing Collection of Shona Sculpture

The initiative builds on an expanding relationship between Zimbabwean artists and American collectors. Gallery Guichard’s recent acquisition included more than 170 sculptures, creating a substantial body of work through which Chicago audiences can engage with contemporary Zimbabwean stone art.

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