The Closure of Gallery Delta at 110 Livingstone Avenue
Dear Patrons, Artists and Friends of Gallery Delta, Foundation for Art and the Humanities.
I am saddened to write that Gallery Delta at 110 Livingstone Avenue has now closed, having promoted and supported the visual arts and humanities at that premises for 28 years. As previously written, we are indebted to our founders, Derek Huggins and Helen Lieros, and to Paul Paul and Colette Wyles for their support during the past three decades. We also acknowledge the support of the patrons, friends of the Gallery Delta and the artists who have been a part of a history that spans almost 50 years and has played out within a rich period of the Visual Arts of Zimbabwe.
Whilst the Gallery Delta at 110 Livingstone Avenue has closed, the Foundation for the Arts and Humanities under the Gallery Delta name remains, though it is inactive at present and for the foreseeable future. I have been honoured to be a part of this institution and am grateful to the Board of Trustees who have served the Gallery Delta Foundation since its creation and thank them for their dedication over the past years. We look forward to seeing what may emerge within the arena of the arts as the future unfolds.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees,
Gregory Shaw,
Chairman
Harare, 9 April 2022
It is with regret that we announce that the Gallery Delta at 110 Livingstone Avenue will be closing. It has become increasingly difficult, economically, to sustain the effort and to remain true to the vision of our esteemed founders, Derek Huggins and Helen Lieros and we have reached a point where this is no longer tenable. 110 Livingstone Avenue became the second premises from which Gallery Delta operated, from which a large number of prominent Zimbabwean artists formed their careers and took their initial steps. Over the past twenty-nine years, a multitude of exhibitions have been mounted, with the final exhibition, Freedom, paying tribute in part, to the founders of the Gallery Delta, Foundation for Arts and the Humanities. We take this opportunity to acknowledge Derek Huggins and Helen Lieros for their extraordinary effort in the creation and development of Gallery Delta at Livingstone Avenue.
We recognise the role played by Paul Paul and Colette Wiles through the Gallery Delta at 110 Livingstone Avenue, where art and history have intertwined, and pay tribute to the great number of artists that have emerged and thrived through the Gallery, to those whose careers have flourished beyond our borders, and to those who have remained and participated from within, contributing to the rich Zimbabwean cultural discourse.
We thank the multitude of patrons, donors and sponsors for their role in supporting and nurturing the Arts in Zimbabwe during these years and are synthesis between these parts allowed not only the gallery to breathe, but the arts with all their complexity to exist as a living phenomenon at this space.
We know that this closing will leave a considerable hole within the Zimbabwean artistic community and the Zimbabwean Arts in general. Our sadness is tempered with hope. Recent conversations have offered some light to the ongoing plight of the Foundation, and the smallest chance that from the embers of the original vision and ideals of the founders, a new vision will emerge. One that will continue the ideology and ethos of the Gallery Delta, Foundation for Art and the Humanities and take a place within the constantly changing community and rapidly changing world of visual arts.
On behalf of The Board of Trustees of Gallery Delta and the Foundation for Art and the Humanities
Gregory Shaw
Chairman
A brief history of the gallery
Gallery Delta was established by Derek Huggins and Helen Lieros in three small rooms at Strachan’s’ building in Manica Road, and opened on the 17th April 1975, a time of sanctions, conflict and war. The intention from the outset was to provide an exhibition space for contemporary paintings, graphics, textiles and ceramics of the highest standard possible as an alternative to ‘Shona Sculpture’ which, led by the National Gallery, dominated the art scene in the city. Within a year or two the gallery occupied seven rooms around the atrium of the premises, and three on the first floor. The gallery was run on a voluntary, part time basis, and exhibitions were held regularly at a rate of about ten or twelve a year. The courtyard served as a space and setting for other events, such as multiracial theatre and jazz performances.
In those years – the 1970’s into the 1980’s – the most promising and experienced painters were Europeans who had undertaken art studies elsewhere. Most African artists were stone sculptors or wood carvers.
The experiment of Frank McEwen, the Director of the then Rhodes National Gallery, from the late 1950’s,to find and promote a new form of African art had succeeded phenomenally with promotion and development of ‘Shona Sculpture’ which led to the ‘Great Excitement’ of the 1960’s in which the Western world was a participant. But McEwen’s endeavour to promote an African contemporary painting movement under the auspices of the Workshop School must now, I think, be regarded as a failure. The availability of the stone as a medium, its popularity in its finished form, its fame and lucrativeness, mitigated against the development of a painting movement and it failed to sustain.
There were, however, a few exceptions. One was Thomas Mukarobgwa, who, under the umbrella of the National Gallery as an attendant, returned to painting in his latter years. Other painters of merit, for example, John Hlatywayo and Kingsley Sambo, active in the 60’s and 70’s, were promoted by African Art Promotions.
Consequently, we looked for young, talented and aspiring Africans who would rather be painters than sculptors. They were almost non-existent.
There were few facilities for serious art study. It meant commencing at the beginning to encourage and promote a new movement in painting. One of the ways in which we undertook this was to promote a ‘Young Artists’ exhibition at the beginning of every year but nonetheless few, if any, good African painters emerged at this time. Meantime, during the 1970’s and 1980’s, we exhibited and promoted artists who were to become well known in the art history of the country, for example, Marshall Baron, Robert Paul, Arthur Azevedo, Helen Lieros, Henry Thompson, Thakor Patel, Stephen Williams, Rashid Jogee, Simon Back, Berry Bickle, Richard Jack, Gerry Dixon and others.
It was, however, to take some twelve or thirteen years, until towards the end of the 80’s to discover potential amongst young African student painters. This occurred as a result of the establishment of the BAT Workshop under the auspices of the National Gallery by its director Christopher Till in the early part of that decade. The emphasis was on drawing and painting. For us, the key figure to emerge as a promising painter was Luis Meque, a Mozambican refugee, who having been expelled from the Workshop for a misdemeanour, sought help and support. His successful promotion was the catalyst for the beginning of an African contemporary painting movement around Gallery Delta from the late 1980’s and which included his contemporaries George Churu and Richard Witikani. Later, during the 1990’s they were joined by Hilary Kashiri, Fasoni Sibanda, Ishmael Wilfred, James Jali, Lovemore Kambudzi, and others all handpicked from the annual ‘Young Artists’ exhibitions, as they finished their studies, and gradually emerged as important painters. The decade of the 1990’s was active and exciting as these zealous and competitive painters worked and exhibited.
Drama, however, struck in 1991, when the new owner of Strachan’s Building was intent to evict all tenants: the cobblers, silk screen printers and tailors from the upper rooms, and Gallery Delta from below.
As fortune would have it, Colette Wiles offered the old, dilapidated and in part derelict house at 110 Livingstone Avenue, which had been the home of her father, the painter Robert Paul, for nearly forty years until his death in 1980, as the new venue for the Gallery Delta. There were compelling reasons to use the house as a gallery: its history – it was built in 1894 and it lays claim to being the oldest extant building in the city – its occupancy by a famous artist, and the prospect of its continued use as an art and cultural venue by Gallery Delta. Inherent in all of this, however, was the need for its conservation. This involved a two year project, from 1991 to late 1993, to repair and restore it to its original appearance, and to build an adjoining amphitheatre, all of which was undertaken and completed by Gallery Delta. Significant in this process was the help of Peter Jackson, architect, and many of Gallery Delta¹s friends and supporters. With the exception of a six month break, the gallery maintained its exhibition programme throughout the remainder of the restoration period.
Thus, by 1994, the prospects looked brighter. Gallery Delta was well established in a new home and had a host of painters and artists around it, including the group of young African painters. There was much competition, energy and zeal amongst the artists, and the exhibition rate was high, about 15 – 17 a year, together with a large and enthusiastic following of local and foreign collectors and clients. Zimbabwean contemporary painting had come of age. Tragedy, however, was to strike repeatedly during the decade with the deaths of good painters: Stephen Williams (1996), followed by the young painters Ishmael Wilfred, Luis Meque and Fasoni Sibanda, and Henry Thompson (1998), Hilary Kashiri (2001) and George Churu (2002) which impinged severely on the artistic resources available. It takes five to seven years to build an artist through regular exhibitions to enjoy acceptance and recognition. Yet, despite these reverses, the decade of the 1990’s saw much growth and development in contemporary painting, and the search for new artists of talent and promise was constant. Towards the end of the decade the painters Greg Shaw, Cosmos Shiridzinomwa and Lovemore Kambudzi were emerging and the gallery remained active and buoyant.
The invasion and occupation of commercial farms at the beginning of the new millennium 2000, instigated and incited by the political leaders, and which continues even today, brought increasing political and economic difficulties to the country. As regards Gallery Delta, in addition to the loss of artists to early deaths, it hastened the emigration of others: Simon Back, Berry Bickle, Gerry Dixon, Richard Jack to name a few, together with local clientele, and resulted in the dearth of discerning foreign visitors and collectors, which, combined with rampant inflation, mitigated against buoyancy and profitability. New young painters, however, were identified in the likes of Patrick Makumbe, Misheck Masamvu, Freddy Tauro and Admire Kamudzengerere who have since become important painters.
Along the years, from 1996 to 2003, Gallery Delta produced and published a visual art magazine under the title of ‘Gallery.’ This was a 32 page, four colour, glossy quarterly publication, funded for its latter six years by Hivos, and edited by Barbara Murray, and for a short time by Murray McCartney, and which ran to 31 issues. It is believed this was of the best, and certainly the longest consecutive visual art magazine, ever published in Africa. Copies were distributed free to schools and libraries, and it has become a vital research tool for students and collectors interested in the development of contemporary painting during the period. It fell into abeyance, not for the promise of continued funding, but for the want of a good editor, and writers, against the background of a critical political and economic situation.
Presently, as at 2009, the gallery survives and continues to promote art and artists, and to act as an unofficial charitable institution still operating at a nominal 25% commission on sales, and providing its artists with interest free loans and bridging finance so far as it is able to do so. Despite the parlous state of the economy exhibitions of remarkably good standard continue to be organized, mounted, presented and promoted at a rate of about 15 a year plus periodic other cultural events: music, theatre and literature in the amphitheatre.
It became clear to the proprietors, however, that Gallery Delta, while debt free still, could not continue indefinitely its work and role without donor and sponsor support on which, little by little, it had become dependent to provide for its survival and continuity.
Consequently, the privately owned gallery was given over by deed of donation into trust to create the Gallery Delta Foundation for Art and the Humanities with effect October, 2008. The ultimate responsibility is now vested in a board of trustees. Presently, the Gallery Delta Foundation, embodying Gallery Delta, continues its work and role in the organization, presentation, exhibition and promotion of Zimbabwean contemporary art as it has done for the past thirty four years, while actively seeking international and other funding.
The prospect of its survival has, this year, been enhanced by sponsorship for some projects and promotions, including this web site, and in the longer term, with the possibility of meaningful political change being wrought from the new government of national unity. There is need, however, for substantial funding to invest in the visual art and artists of the country. We have been told on countless occasions that Gallery Delta, situated in the old house amongst lawns and wild palms, is a unique place, a creative space, refuge, and source of peace and inspiration, which makes a difference to people’s lives. Please help maintain the activity…
Derek Huggins,
Director,
Gallery Delta Foundation for Art and the Humanities,
Harare, Zimbabwe.
May 2009
DEREK HUGGINS
1940 - 2021
The Board of Trustees and the Gallery Delta Community extend their most sincere condolences to the Huggins and Lieros families, on the passing away of Derek Huggins; loving husband to Helen Lieros, brother to Mary and David. Derek was the Co-Founder of the Gallery Delta and instrumental within the artistic community since the 1970s. His contribution to the arts is immeasurable.

Derek is best known for his role of founding and running the Gallery Delta, first at Little Chelsea on Robert Mugabe Road (1975-1991), then at Robert Paul’s Old House, 110 Livingstone Ave, Harare (1991 – 2021). He has been integral in the seminal moments of some of Zimbabwe’s most well-known artists, and during the long story of Gallery Delta, maintained professional relationships with some of the beacons of Zimbabwean art; Arthur Azavedo, Cosmos Shiridzinomwa, Helen Lieros, Luis Meque, Masimba Hwati and Virginia Chihota, amidst others.
Derek’s writing was included in various publications during the 2000s. His own book, a collection of short stories entitled Stained Earth was published in 2004. He authored the extraordinary book Eleni Lierou/Helen Lieros mural paintings: the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel at Maputo, Mozambique, 1996-2000 (2015) with contributions from Jean Luc Duval and Anna Lazou. It is characteristic of Derek, that his efforts were so often directed towards illuminating Helen’s work.
Derek was affectionately known around the Gallery as Sekuru. His relationship with his friends and colleagues was personal and caring, he was a man of gentle humour, unparalleled compassion and kindness. He gave of himself entirely, to the arts and more significantly, to the artist; to none more than his beloved wife, Helen. Integrity, honesty and humility are seldom seen as visibly as they were in Derek. We have lost one of the righteous men of the world, but his example to us lives on, as does his legacy to the Visual Arts of Zimbabwe.

Helen Lieros
1940 - 2021
The Board of Trustees and the Gallery Delta Community extend their most sincere condolences to the Lieros and Huggins families, on the passing away of Helen Lieros; loving wife to Derek, Artist, Mentor, Teacher, and Co-Founder of the Gallery Delta. Helen was an inspiration to a great many people, and has been a central pillar within Zimbabwean Visual Arts for over five decades.
Her work is held in the Permanent Collection of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, the Cabinet des Estamps and Centre de la Gravure, Geneva and the Museum of African Arts, Paris, among many others. She was the first recipient of the President’s Award of Honour at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (1990), and the recipient of a National Arts Merit Award. It is perhaps her murals of the Greek Orthodox Church in Maputo that best represent her life and career. A work that transcends cultural, religious, nationalistic and artistic barriers. A work that celebrates both the tragedy and triumph of humanity, that expresses vividly, the artist’s zeal for life, passion for the arts and her great faith.
Through the foundation of the Gallery Delta, and her work as a teacher, she has impacted the lives of hundreds of people. For some, it has been an understanding and appreciation of the visual arts, for others the discovery of unseen creativity, and others still, the understanding of what it means to be a great teacher in the fullest sense of the word; to have belief in the people around you. She has been both nurturing and influential in the careers of many of Zimbabwe’s most prominent artists, some who have begun their careers at Gallery Delta, and who in some way, will carry forwards her legacy.
We will miss Helen’s passion, energy and force of life more than can be written. She leaves both an impact and a considerable void at this time. Her contribution to the arts will be forever cemented in the Zimbabwean story.