Cynthia Zukas
Cynthia Zukas (born in 1931) is a fine artist and an advocate for visual arts in Zambia. She is wife of veteran politician and freedom fighter, Simon Zukas.
Early life
Cynthia was born in 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa.[1] She graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Cape Town University and migrated to Zambia in 1965 where she became involved in the country’s cultural and artistic movements including: Art Centre Foundation, Mpapa Gallery, National Museums Board, Zambia National Arts Council.
Personal life
Cynthia and her husband Simon met in London in 1952 while Simon was in exile and the two married three years later.
Community initiatives
In 1986, Cynthia formed Lechwe Trust, a charitable trust for the visual arts in Zambia. Other founding members included Henry Tayali (1943 – 1987) and Bente Lorenz (1922 – 2011).[1]
She has been supporting the arts in Zambia in many capacities: privately, as a member of the Art Centre Foundation, co-director of Mpapa Art Gallery, Chairlady of the Lechwe Trust and in many more functions.[2]
Cynthia is a practicing painter and printmaker.
Awards and recognitions
- In 2000, Cynthia was the winner of the National Arts Council “Ngoma award for outstanding contribution in the development of the visual arts”.
- In 2011, she received the Mama Julia Chikamuneka Award for "recognition of commitment to a just society".
- In 2012 she received from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain an MBE award for “promoting visual arts in Zambia” and being “instrumental in creating an historical archive of Zambian art spanning more than 50 years.”<ref name="queen">Zambia Reports, Queen Elizabeth Bestows The Order Of British Empire On Zukas, 15 June 2012
