Simon Back

Simon Back (b.1996 in Harare. Lives and works in Mauritius)

Simon Back was born in Harare and lived in Zimbabwe for most of his youth. In 1983, at the age of 17 he became a student of Helen Lieros the founder of Gallery Delta and renowned painting teacher. He then went on to study fine art in Cape Town, majoring in Print Making, before returning to Zimbabwe to teach and paint. It was around this time that he exhibited frequently at Gallery Delta and participated yearly in the National Heritage Exhibitions at the National Gallery. In 1996 he moved to Mauritius with his family continuing to paint and teach while exhibiting locally and internationally. Back's influences have been varied, ranging from classical African art to the Abstract and Neo-Expressionists of the 1950s and 1960s. His process of painting involves an interaction between the compulsive act of mark making within an often more constructed space. Zuva Gallery began working with Back more than 20 years ago and looks forward to continued future exhibitions with this established talent.

Selected Exhibitions:

2025: Adam 2.0, First Floor Gallery Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe
2023: Paper Weight (Group Exhibition), First Floor Gallery Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe
2021: Art Laguna Prize – International Art Competition , Venice – 15th Edition
2020: Beyond Before' – Solo exhibition, Matter Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2019: 'Crossing Boundaries' – Gallery Delta – Group show -Zimbabwe
2019: 'Conversations' – Group show organized by L'Institute Francais de Maurice and FRAC de la Reunion at Musée d'Histoire
Naturelle – Port Louis.
2018: Participation'10 Ans' Exhibition, Imaaya Gallery, Mauritius
2018:'Layered Verses' – Solo Exhibition, Matter Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2018: 'Five Bhobh – Painting At An End of an Era' Exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA , Cape Town, South Africa.
2018: 'Layered Verses' – Solo Exhibition, Showcase Gallery, Dubai, U.A.E.
2017: Solo Exhibition, Imaaya Gallery, Mauritius
2017: Participation 'Vision D'Artistes – Port Louis 2017, Gallery Ilha Do Cirne, Mauritius.
2017: Solo Exhibition, Matter Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2016: 'Borderline Exhibition', Third Dot, Granary, Port Louis, Mauritius
2016: 'Metaform Sculpture Exhibition', Third Dot, Port Louis, Mauritius.
2016: 'Porlwi' Prison Installation, Mauritius.
2012-15: Solo Exhibitions at A3, Imaaya and Afrasia galleries in Mauritius and "40 Years" Exhibition, Gallery Delta, Harare, Zimbabwe