Made by hand: the art of Ismael Shivute

Namibian sculptor and mixed-media artist Ismael Shivute has built a practice inspired by his surroundings. Born and raised in Ombome, a small village in northern Namibia near Outapi, Shivute spent his childhood making toys for himself and his friends from found materials. His creative resourcefulness led him to the College of the Arts in Windhoek, where he graduated from the Department of Visual Arts in 2010. Since then, Shivute has become known for his inventive use of recycled and found materials, both organic and man-made.

In his early career, Shivute created a body of work that offered social commentary on urban housing in Namibia. His first solo exhibition, Day-to-Day (2016) at the National Art Gallery of Namibia, showcased mixed-media pieces depicting the corrugated landscapes of Windhoek’s informal settlements. “I always make use of recycled and found materials, mostly metals, cans and wires, because they are locally available at no cost,” he explains. By transforming tin cans and other discarded materials into textured cityscapes, Shivute created a documentation of life as it is lived by many.

Shivute now works predominantly as a sculptor. His threedimensional practice includes large-scale welded metal sculptures, carved and shaped from sheets and bars of steel. Drawn to its rusty colour, malleability and weathered texture, he actively seeks out salvaged metal, which adds a distinctive character to each piece. “I admire the previous life of the materials,” he says.

In recent years, Shivute has also turned to soapstone, sourcing it locally from quarries on the outskirts of Windhoek. Creating his work entirely by hand with basic tools, he avoids power tools, preferring the process to remain meditative and intimate. “Each stone suggests its ideal form to me as I work,” he reflects. His second solo exhibition, I Keep My Circle Small (2022), at Fresh ’n Wild at Utopia in Windhoek, showcased abstract soapstone pieces, many featuring hollowed-out circular forms. Today, Shivute continues to expand his practice by combining soapstone with reclaimed metal, reaffirming his reputation as a mixed-media sculptor.

“As an artist, I am only inspired by my environment, and the feel of things made by hand,” Shivute says. Reflecting on this intuitive process, he adds: “The materials give themselves the theme, and the final artwork gives itself the title.” His subject matter often draws from the harsh urban conditions of informal settlements, and his sculptures explore both personal and collective stories. “I feel that my art reflects a unique Namibian identity, as well as my own identity as an artist struggling to survive in the world.”

Shivute’s work has been featured in Being Here (2017) and Side by Side (2018) at StArt Art Gallery, African Galleries Now (2022), the Baker’s Bay Artists’ Retreat (2022 and 2023) and most recently in Slow Burn (2025), a group exhibition at SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch. His sculptures are represented in major collections in Namibia, Switzerland and the US Embassy in Windhoek.

Fifteen years into his career, Shivute remains dedicated to the hard labour of shaping metal and stone, guided by an ethos of resourcefulness and innovation. He hopes that his work and practical methods of making will inspire others to see the potential in overlooked materials. Shivute is currently preparing for his next solo exhibition while continuing to share his practice on Facebook, Instagram and through StArt Art Gallery.

Muningandu Hoveka

Ismael Shivute’s work is currently featured in a group show at the Sweet Side of Thingz in Windhoek, located on Independence Avenue.

StArt Art Gallery info@startartgallery.com