Washington Matafi was born in 1981 in the Hwedza district of Zimbabwe. At the age of 19, having completed his secondary education at Chikurumadziva Secondary School, Washington started an apprenticeship with Elvis Mamvura in Chitungwiza.

Washington says he found an immediate affinity with stone and within a year he had graduated from his apprenticeship and was ready to work on his own. He could now work on bigger pieces and experiment with style and technique. From then on Washington expanded his knots and twisting style in his sculpture. Washington transitioned quickly from the more figurative work of his mentor at that time, into totally abstract pieces. Washington’s unique pieces are mainly in Springstone and green Opal stones.

For many years abstract stone sculpture in Zimbabwe was synonymous with craft rather than art, since ‘family abstracts’ are mass produced for export and the tourist market. In 2014 he introduced the three sided abstract and this form has been accepted very well in the market. Washington, and others of his generation, have completely reversed that thinking by showing the possibilities this form of expression offers.

In 2005 Washington won the first prize in an exhibit entitled Creativity and Originality, organized by the Chitungwiza Arts Centre, which he had joined the year before. He won the Young sculptor Award, organized by African Millennium Foundation in 2006. In 2007 he won the award for Creativity and originality (Chitungwiza Arts Centre)) 2007. And in 2007 he also won second prize at the Modern Abstract Exhibition.

In 2009 and again in 2013 Washington was nominated for Zimbabwe’s National Arts Merit Award. NAMA awards are the most sought after national awards for artists in all disciplines.

The message in his sculptures aims to unite people from all walks of life the world over. Washington’s work is found in many galleries and private art collections around the world, including in Britain, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Washington has had several exhibitions in Germany, where he also conducted workshops, and has been represented in Canada since 2013.