Joshua Strydom

Joshua Strydom is a Zimbabwean artist currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. His practice is rooted in the physical landscapes of Zimbabwe, and in the materials and processes he uses to translate that landscape into artwork. He works across cyanotype, acrylic, and charcoal, building layered patterns drawn from his photographs and experiences of Zimbabwe. Central to his practice is the philosophy of hunhu/ubuntu (I am, because we are) and the tsumo nemadimikira (proverbs and idioms) that have fascinated him since primary school. These anecdotes of wisdom allow art to move beyond decoration into something instructive: a guide, an illustration of a life well lived, and a reinforcement of communal identity. Living abroad, Josh continues to reflect through his work on distance, memory, and a connection to home that results in a cycle of constant return, engaging with the resilience and distinct visual language that define Zimbabwean art despite the economic pressures artists living in Zimbabwe continue to navigate.