Sydney Nyabeze is fueled by historical craftsmanship. Whether it’s the legendary masterpieces of yesteryear or the dexterous creations by the artists he works alongside at homewares brand Ardmore, the KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa–based painter looks to the past for inspiration. “My mission is to make sure that my work stays relevant to the new generation while remaining historically iconic,” he tells Business of Home.
Nyabeze grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe, where his father was a Unitarian Evangelist and his mother worked at a local farm while raising him and his seven siblings. In second grade, he began experimenting with art in grammar school—and hasn’t put down a paintbrush since. “I was drawn to art and painting, as it was a way for me to capture my favorite landscapes from the mountains in Zimbabwe and put those images on paper.”
As a young adult, he earned a degree in visual arts at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare—where some of his works remain on display today—and began building a reputation by showing his paintings in prominent galleries around the city. “My first exhibition was at the Standard Bank Gallery in Harare for Artists Against Poverty, where I won an award,” he says.
After graduating, Nyabeze moved to South Africa and worked as a pottery painter for an array of local galleries before joining Ardmore, a South Africa–based high-end homewares company, in 2011. For his first major project for the brand, Nyabeze collaborated with lead artist Catherine Berning on a hand-painted scarf design adorned in leopards, monkeys and protea flowers that was ultimately produced by luxury fashion house Hermès. “Working with other artists inspires me to be more creative,” he says.
Most of Nyabeze’s flora-and-fauna-filled patterns for Ardmore—which are available in the United States through Ngala Trading—begin with a pencil sketch that transforms into a watercolor or acrylic painting. With the help of the brand’s founder, Fée Halsted, he refines each design before it’s digitized into a printable motif. “Her guidance elevates my artwork and helps me figure out when a piece is complete,” he says.
In addition to painting textiles and ceramics, Nyabeze crafts custom portraits, mixed media works and theater sets in his free time—and also accepts commissions. “My paintings are contemporary and beautiful, and can be seen worldwide at Ardmore and beyond, which I am very proud of,” he says.
Currently hard at work on a soon-to-be-launched fabric collection for Ardmore, Nyabeze continues to collaborate on everything from lamp bases and candlesticks to umbrella stands and dinnerware for the brand. “I have also been working on new scarf designs as well as pangolin-clad plates to accompany the festive Royal Red [holiday] collection,” he says.
He’s also in the midst of creating a special line of designs that pay tribute to legendary Ardmore artist Wonderboy Nxumalo, which will include an array of bespoke pieces showcasing South African wildlife. “These patterns have deep symbolism for both me and the brand,” Nyabeze explains. “My goal is to make unique artworks that build upon the previous work of Ardmore’s master artists.”
If you want to learn more about Sydney Nyabeze, visit Ardmore’s website or Instagram.
