John Hlatywayo was born in 1928, Chipinge, Rhodesia. Hlatywayo originally trained as a carpenter. He studied under Cecil Skotnes at Polly Street Art Centre and later under George Boys who introduced him to the techniques of batik and mono printing. Around 1970 Hlatywayo travelled to Rhodesia and was given a studio in the Rhodes National Gallery in Salisbury, now the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare. He returned to Johannesburg periodically when Boys continued to provide him with support and advice. He currently lives and teaches art in Harare.
Exhibitions:
1963: Rhodes National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia; London, UK (New Art from Rhodesia). Adier Fielding Galleries Johannesburg (solo). Lidchi Art Gallery, Cape Town (Polly Street Artists). 1964: Rhodes National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia (Seventh Annual Art Exhibition). 1965: DAM (Bantu Interfaith Art exhibition). Rhodes National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia (Eighth Annual Art Exhibition).
Collections:
Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA; National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare; WITS.