Permanent Collection (National Gallery of Zimbabwe)

The National Gallery’s permanent collection is a living record of the growth and development of Zimbabwean art from its earliest stages to the present day. Prior to the establishment of the gallery in 1957, there was little focus on local art and individual artists worked in isolation. Annual exhibitions that came with the establishment of the gallery, established a forum for the display and exploration of local art thus establishing a standard for local art and providing a platform for interaction between established and amateur artists.

Its collection is made up of about 6000 works that are categorised as traditional African pieces. The collection is an eclectic nature embracing Zimbabwean, African contemporary works, English and European Old master artworks. The greatest part of the collection is that of contemporary Zimbabwean artists which was collected during annual exhibitions.

The gallery's collection endeavours to represent significant developments in Zimbabwean art. The works in the collection are of outstanding quality and importance defined by merit and the artist’s contribution to the history and development of Zimbabwean and international art. The selection process is therefore based on quality, significance of the artist and their contribution to the development of Zimbabwean art, and cultural significance of the artwork.