The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) presents Hidden Battles / Hondo dzakavanzika, Portia Zvavahera’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States. This significant exhibition represents Zvavahera’s third major international showcase in less than 24 months, following acclaimed presentations at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and at Kettle’s Yard, University of Cambridge. The exhibition title Hidden Battles / Hondo dzakavanzika denotes inner spiritual, emotional and artistic struggles that deeply inform Zvavahera’s creative process.
Known for her intense spiritual imagery and dreamlike symbolism, in this exhibition she explores the profound symbolic role of animals and the broader themes of transformation, transition and transcendence. Zvavahera’s technique merges painting and printmaking, integrating traditional Zimbabwean textile motifs into vibrant, layered compositions. Raised within the African Pentecostal tradition, the artist’s s work balances elements of Christian spirituality and animistic cosmologies, thereby positioning the act of painting itself as a spiritual practice.
Zvavahera’s evocative figures commune with spirits, animals and angels, creating vivid dialogues between comforting presences and unsettling dreams. In 2024, Zvakazarurwa, curated by Tamar Garb, was presented by Kettle’s Yard, University of Cambridge, and traveled to Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, in 2025. The Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, showcased Imba yerumbidzo (house of praise), as part of its Open Space series 2024.
Hidden Battles / Hondo dzakavanzika opens on the 28th of August 2025 and will run until the 19th of January 2026 at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, USA.
