Cynthia Zukas (19 February 1931 – 23 November 2024) was a South African-born Zambian painter. She received the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 2012.

Early life and education

Zukas was born on 19 February 1931 in

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. She was

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish. 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.

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 Lusaka ( ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about . , the city's population was abo ...

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 The Lechwe Trust is a charitable trust which supports Zambian artists and maintains a collection of Zambian art. It was established in 1986 by the artist and philanthropist Cynthia Zukas, the artist Henry Tayali and the ceramist Bente Lorenz. Early ...

, an organization aimed at developing visual arts in Zambia. She also played a large role in the Zambia National Visual Arts Council (VAC). Some of the artists that she notes who have contributed to the Zambia's art are Henry Tayali and Valentine Musakanya. It was through her artwork that Zukas earned herself international recognition even among westerners.

Death

Zukas died on 23 November 2024, aged 93.

Awards

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zukas, Cynthia 1931 births 2024 deaths Members of the Order of the British Empire Military personnel from Cape Town Zambian Jews 20th-century Zambian painters 21st-century Zambian painters Zambian women artists Zambian art educators 20th-century Zambian women University of Cape Town alumni Zambian people of South African descent Artists from Cape Town