Cynthia Zukas

Cynthia Zukas
Zukas in 2018
Born	(1931-02-19)19 February 1931 Cape Town, Union of South Africa
Died	23 November 2024(2024-11-23) (aged 93)
Education	University of Cape Town (BA, Fine Art)
Known for	Drawing, Teaching Art, Painting, Printmaking
Spouse	Simon Zukas

Cynthia Zukas (19 February 1931 – 23 November 2024) was a South African-born Zambian painter. She received the Order of the British Empire in 2012.

Early life and education

Zukas was born on 19 February 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa.[1] She was Jewish.[2] Zukas went to school in South Africa, where she started her art career, and later went to London where she studied as an art teacher. In London, she met Simon Zukas who she later married.[3]

Career

After a few years, Simon and Cynthia moved to Zambia and Cynthia became a full-time housewife. The two have two children. During her free time, she used to draw, which she did until her death. A few years after coming to Zambia, she was introduced to the Lusaka Art Society. This is where she met different artists and became the secretary of the society. It was later that she cofounded the Lechwe Trust, an organization aimed at developing visual arts in Zambia.[4] She also played a large role in the Zambia National Visual Arts Council (VAC).[5]

Some of the artists that she notes who have contributed to the Zambia's art are Henry Tayali and Valentine Musakanya.[6] It was through her artwork that Zukas earned herself international recognition even among westerners.[7][8]

Death

Zukas died on 23 November 2024, aged 93.[9]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result
2000	National Arts Council[10]	Ngoma award for outstanding contribution in the development of the visual arts	Won
2011	Julia Chikamoneka Freedom Award[11]	Press Freedom Committee of The Post Newspaper (PFC)	Honored
2012	Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain an Order of the British Empire[12][13] (MBE)	For promoting visual arts in Zambia[14] and for creating a historical archive of Zambian art	Received

References

1. Cynthia Zukas’ 50 creative years
2. Mwale, Nelly (2019). "Neglected but Not Forgotten: Jews and Nation Building in the Zambian Public Sphere Through the Life Trajectory of Cynthia Sarah Zukas". Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary e-Journal. 16 (1). ISSN 1209-9392.
3. Cynthia Zukas - Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
4. Hugh Macmillan; Hugh Macmillan (Ph. D.); Frank Shapiro (1999). Zion in Africa: the Jews of Zambia. I.B. Tauris Publishers in association with The Council for Zambia Jewry. p. 280. ISBN 9781860644054.
5. Diary Notebook. ZWICCT. 1993.
6. The Arts of Africa: An Annotated Bibliography. African Studies Association. 1992. ISBN 9789992828472.
7. Taylor, Scott D. (2006). Culture and Customs of Zambia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 60. ISBN 9780313332463. Cynthia Zukas.
8. "Focus on Africa - 'Being involved with the artists has helped keep me young' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
9. "Art Icon Cynthia Zukas Has Died". ZNBC. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
10. "Times of Zambia | Cynthia Zukas' 50 creative years". Retrieved 21 December 2024.
11. Julia Chikamoneka Freedom Award
12. Cynthia Zukas
13. "Queen Elizabeth Bestows The Order Of British Empire On Zukas". Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
14. Mulenga, Andrew (28 June 2012). "Andrew Mulenga's Hole In The Wall: Queen honours Cynthia Zukas". Andrew Mulenga's Hole In The Wall. Retrieved 21 December 2024.

External links

• Official website