The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
Sylvia Munodawafa
Painter/Sculptor, Arts Educator Vakoma ArtBio
Artist Bio
My name is Sylvia Munodawafa, and I am the Inaugral University Circle Inc. Artist in Residence for 2025. I am an abstract painter, a designer, a photographer, and a sculptor born in Harare, Zimbabwe, raised both in Africa and in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Most times, I use acrylic paint on canvas, but I am always eager to experiment with different paints, techniques, and surfaces. Over the years, my style has evolved with experience. From simple drawings years ago to now creating sculptures inspired by my African heritage. I was lucky to experience growing up in both Zimbabwe and Cleveland. I have however spent more than half my life in the United States and after graduating from Beaumont High School, I got to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art which certainly helped me realize I wanted to be a full time creative. I was named one of Heights Art Gallery’s 2024 Emergent Artists. After that, I had my first solo show at Pinwheel Gallery a few months after that. Im fortunate to have shown in multiple group shows in the past few years, and I am excited to have been Curated Storefront’s 2024 Resident Artist at Akron’s I Promise School. August 2025, I became an internationally exhibited artist, having completed my solo show in Harare Zimbabwe.
Every experience, every person I meet, and the countries I visit add a new flavor to my work. There is much more I would love to explore and types of art to experiment with. I can’t wait to see where I take my art and where my art takes me.
Artist Statement
Artist Statement:
My work as an African-inspired abstract painter and sculptor is a journey into the vibrant tapestry of my heritage and imagination. I raw from the rich cultural landscapes of Africa.
My use of color in my work is a reflection of the dynamic energy and diversity found throughout the continent. Bright and colorful always reminds me of home. Through sculpture, I have recently been exploring aspects of African spirituality and tradition through masks. capturing the essence of ancestral wisdom and of contemporary expression.
My art is a celebration of identity and connection, bridging the past with the present, and the personal with the universal. It invites viewers to delve into a world where abstract art and tradition coalesce, where every stroke and curve carries a narrative of beauty, strength, and the enduring spirit of an ancient culture