Gabriel Choto was born in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe, moving to England when he was five years old, eventually pursuing art studies at Leeds College of Art (2012), and in London at Camberwell College of Arts (UAL, 2014) and Central St Martins (UAL, 2019). Choto's practice explores themes of identity, diaspora, and familial connections. His works, frequently based on family photographs, blend printmaking and painting, often layering oil paint over etchings to create intimate portraits, exploring personal history and the broader experiences of the African diaspora, and emphasising the importance of cultural roots and personal journeys.
Artist Gabriel Choto was born in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe, moving to England when he was five. His passion for art began to flourish when he was a teenager, during his secondary schooling. His interest was particularly sparked by the 'African Masters' TV show, which introduced him to contemporary African art and inspired him to explore themes of personal identity and artistic representation. He completed his Diploma in Art and Design at Leeds Arts University (2012), before moving to London and earning a BAFA in Drawing from Camberwell College of Arts (UAL, 2014), followed by an MFA at Central St Martins (UAL, 2019).
Choto’s art is deeply interwoven with his personal history and cultural heritage, exploring themes of home, pride, and the experience of living in a diaspora. His signature artistic style, which merges detailed, full-colour faces with simpler sketched figures, has emerged from his explorations in etching and painting. This unique approach began to take shape during his studies at Leeds College of Art, where he experimented with incorporating painting into his printmaking. This pivotal moment occurred while creating a piece for his late grandfather when Choto found that painting just the head in detailed colour against the plainer etched background created a striking visual effect. This process has since evolved into a defining characteristic of his work, capturing emotional depth and contrasting with the simplicity of the sketched bodies and backgrounds: an innovative fusion of printmaking and painting, emphasising themes of identity and memory. This evolution in style is reflected in Choto's creative process, which involves initial drawings on an iPad, followed by printing the image, etching it onto a zinc plate, and finally, painting over it with oils. Each step contributes to the distinctive aesthetic the artist has developed, creating paintings that oscillate between ‘presence and absence’, suggesting a ‘metaphoric liminal state’ (Bonhams). Choto's work is deeply personal and introspective, featuring close family in moments of quiet reflection or tender, domestic scenes derived from old photographs. His sister frequently appears in his works, reflecting their close bond in a single-parent Zimbabwean household. Choto's art serves as a visual documentation of her life and, by extension, represents young black children who rarely see themselves depicted in the grand narratives of art galleries and museums. By including himself and influential figures in his life, Choto's work asserts their presence and significance. Choto also creates self-portraits where he introspects his identity through constructed scenarios.
In 2022, he was selected to take part in The World Reimagined, a national initiative that displayed over 100 globes across seven UK cities. This project aimed to shed light on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, spurring on discussions on racial justice. His work Unity, responding to the theme ‘Echoes in the Present’, referenced the Brookes diagram, which illustrated the inhumane arrangement of enslaved Africans on ships during their forced journey from West Africa to the Americas and Caribbean. The diagram starkly portrayed individuals crammed beyond safe capacities, lying in tight confines. Choto chose to focus on two children within this harrowing context, depicted as lying head to head and holding hands, seeking comfort in each other amidst the terror of transatlantic travel. This work examined the contemporary significance of these historical events, symbolising the lingering impacts of colonial borders that continue to divide Black communities. However, Choto also portrayed a message of unity and resistance. Just as the two children in his artwork find solace in each other, he suggested that there is strength in unity among Black people facing racial injustices (The World Reimagined website).
Choto’s first solo exhibition, Kumba, was held at Anima Mundi, St. Ives, Cornwall in 2021 and featured three sections. The first comprised works derived from old family photographs, piecing together nostalgic memories and emphasising the importance of family and friendship as anchors. The second presented a series of self-portraits where Choto explored and examined his broadening identity through constructed scenarios. The third depicted people living in Africa, contrasting their circumstances with Choto's current life in England. This juxtaposition illustrated the dual states of connection and separation inherent to the diasporic condition. In 2023 Choto held his solo exhibition Deep, Deep Down in the Belly of The Earth at ADA contemporary art gallery, Accra, Ghana. Earlier group exhibitions have included Blxckout Revolution, 198 Gallery, London (2017); Open Dialogue: Artists + Designers of Afro-Caribbean Descent, Central St Martins (2018); FBA Futures, Mall Galleries (2018); Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts London (2021) and Portrait of a Top Boy, Somerset House (2023). In 2018, Choto was selected for the Clyde & Co Art Award, with his works being included in the Clyde & Co exhibition in London and in 2019 he won the Clifford Chance Printmaking Purchase Prize. Gabriel Choto's work is not currently represented in UK public collections.
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Gabriel Choto]
Publications related to [Gabriel Choto] in the Ben Uri Library