Bio
A Young Girl with a Dream
Molly ‘Maureen Phiri’ Winckelmans is a Belgian-Zimbabwean painter who resides in the countryside community situated in Bornem, near Antwerp, Belgium. After a immense struggle against the prejudices of studying art within her own family , her efforts paid off by receiving a scholarship from the prestigious National art Gallery of Zimbabwe. Her talent , hard work and continuous perseverance were very much appreciated by her teachers and the Art director of the Gallery. She was the only female student of her class who finished the complete training course in 1994.
Strongly inspired by the world famous Zimbabwean Sculptors as John Takawira , Colleen Madamombe, Nicolas Mukombe , Henry Munyara she is committed to stay faithful to her cultural heritage. She doesn't compromise on her very modern , contemporary 'abstract-figurative' style. Because of this consistent approach , her works are appreciated worldwide.
The message she wants to spread through her works is universal and destroys with ease all cultural barriers. Themes like female strength, struggle for emancipation but also motherhood are very present in most of her works.
Molly spend a big part of her life in Zambia , Botswana and Zimbabwe, moving easily between all the different populations of Southern Africa. Because of this experiences, she had no problem to adapt herself to the life in Belgium. In Bornem she is known as a hard working artist who brings an interesting vibe to the local cultural scene with a progressive and open approach towards art.
In Zimbabwe, Molly Maureen Phiri Winckelmans received seven prestigious awards, and two of her artworks were acquired by the National Art Gallery for its permanent collection. Recognized as one of Zimbabwe’s most influential female painters, she has gained international acclaim, with her works collected across Southern Africa, Europe, and America.
Recent International Features
Molly Winckelmans has been featured in:
• TV Euro News
• RTV
• Various Local Newspapers
• ENTREPRENEUR Magazine
• ARTTER Magazine
• ARTISTCLOSEUP Magazine