IAN DAVE KNIFE™

Master Sculptor - New York City Tree stump Street Artist, Painter , Community Organizer, Activist, Instructor

 
                              ARTIST STATEMENT
Ian Dave Knife™ was raised  in Zimbabwe and based in New York, my work as an artist and political activist challenges the traditional norms of Zimbabwe Shona stone sculpture. My choice of artistic materials for the past 25 years both advances and subverts the traditional stone sculpture that dominates Zimbabwean art. A current piece incorporates buffalo horn, which is used by medicine men in Zimbabwe to empower and strengthen the warrior before battle. The shaman invests the buffalo horn with meaning that in turn influences the warriors’ belief and actions, similar to how wielding an AK47 or a Bible creates feelings of power in the user. I incorporate my personal experience as an African man as well as Black world history to create objects of influence and power. I intend my work to have a profound impact on viewers, raising their consciousness to the importance of Black culture in the global community. My work speaks in the current climate, and of times past where many believe Black history has no relevance. I incorporate varied and diverse textures, shapes and forms in my creative process. When sculpting stone with traditional African stone carving adzes, I enter a rhythmic trance state where the stone literally talks to me – it opens ups and shows me the possibilities of what is hiding inside. My choice of materials brings to my work an almost shamanistic effect. I use living plants, wood, bones, stone, and human hair to instill power and the rituals needed for its expression in the viewer. My art evokes traditional and cultural values, giving voice to those who are often unheard, and reveals the panorama of African history. My intention is to draw the viewer in with shapes, images, textures, and mixed media designs, narrating stories of voyages and migrations. My ability to connect with and listen to the stone creates art that speaks of new and unpredictable cycles, thoughts, and associations. I hope to create an experiential exchange challenging the viewer’s perceptions, perspectives, and assumptions. My current projects for 2020 include executing 14 street art sculptures on tree stumps around New York City to beautify the city where the city leaves stumps after trees a cut down.
Extensive national and international exhibitions and several works in museum collection
ALL ART WORK FOR SALE CLICK THE LINK :
https://www.artpal.com/IanDaveKnife
 
1987 - 91 - The Workshop studio Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 
1990 - Group show National art Gallery of Zimbabwe
1990- Group show ,Gallery Delta . Harare Zimbabwe 
1991 Group show National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe 
1999 - solo exhibit , Edinburgh  Scotland. 
 2000 - 03 ArtCity artists movement , Ventura CA.
2001 - Group show ArtyCity Studios , Ventura , CA
2002 - Santa fe International Folk Art Festival.
2003 - Solo exhibit,  Shona Sol Gallery , Santa fe,  NM
2004 -07 - Ian D Knife Gallery & Studio . Taos NM
2005 - Group show , Taos Fall Art Festival.  Taos NM
2006 - Walden Fine Arts  Taos New Mexico. 
2007 - Wilder Nightingale Gallery, Taos New Mexico 
 2004-12  Taos Artist Colony , Taos New Mexico.
2018-19  Community gardens of New York.
2018-19 The Art Students League of New York. 
2019 - Workshop lead for LUNGS Harvest Festival
2019 - Guest lecturer at Norwich University,  Vermont.
2019 -Art Instructor , The Compleat Sculptor,  Ne York
2019 - Group show , TBG Gallery , New York.
2020- C.E.O Garden Artists Residency Project (GARP)

2021 - Nft creator
 
CLICK BELOW TO BECOME MY PATRON :
https://www.patreon.com/IanDaveKnife
NEWS AND MEDIA ARTICLES
https://patch.com/new-york/east-village/e-village-artist-transforms-tree-stump-face-sculpture
https://evgrieve.com/2019/12/the-anti-monkey-christ.html?m=1
https://nypost.com/2019/12/21/east-village-man-ian-dave-knife-turns-nyc-eyesores-into-street-art/
https://www.fox5ny.com/video/641029
https://indypendent.org/2020/01/winter-warriors-meet-the-new-yorkers-making-a-living-in-the-great-outdoors/
STONE CARVING CLASSES CLICK BELOW :
FEBRUARY 2020 CLASSES
https://shop.sculpt.com/200200-shona-stone-carving-class-february.html
MARCH 2020 CLASSES
https://shop.sculpt.com/200300-shona-stone-carving-class-march.html
 LOCATIONS OF MY STREET ART IN NEW YORK CITY:
1). Tribute to Keith Haring - E 11 street Near 1st Ave NYC
2). Child in a cage - 1st Ave between E 9th st & St Mark's
3).  Man down - St Mark's Place & 1st ave .NYC
4). Village Crocodile - ave A & E 6th street . NYC
5). King Rockefeller  - Rockefeller lookout on Palisades parkway. 
6). Prospect Park
7). East village flower- E 7th street near Ave D . NYC


https://www.coinvise.co/KnifeNFT
cryptoarts@yahoo.com

What's on my mind...

Fox5news piece on my street art

Ian Dave Knife Street artist
Posted on Jan 3, 2020 | Last Updated Jan 3, 2020

Fox5news New York new article

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Ian dave Knife , Fox5newsNY ,

Fox5news piece on my street art

Ian Dave Knife Street artist
Posted on Jan 3, 2020 | Last Updated Jan 3, 2020

Fox5news New York new article

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Ian dave Knife , Fox5newsNY ,

Shona Stone Carving Classes

Talking to the stone
Posted on Nov 8, 2019 | Last Updated Nov 8, 2019

Shona Stone Carving Classes

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stone carving, stone sculpture, carving classes, workshops, learn shona sculpture, learn to sculpt, things do do in New York

Shona Stone Carving Classes

Talking to the stone
Posted on Nov 8, 2019 | Last Updated Nov 8, 2019

Shona Stone Carving Classes

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stone carving, stone sculpture, carving classes, workshops, learn shona sculpture, learn to sculpt, things do do in New York

Shona Stone Carving Classes

Talking to the stone
Posted on Nov 8, 2019 | Last Updated Nov 8, 2019

Shona Stone Carving Classes

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stone carving, stone sculpture, carving classes, workshops, learn shona sculpture, learn to sculpt, things do do in New York

Shona stone sculpture classes NYC 2019-2020

Shona stone carving classes
Posted on Oct 9, 2019 | Last Updated Oct 9, 2019

Shona stone carving classes

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TCS, The Complete Sculptor, New York Sculptor, Sculpture classes, sculpture workshops, shona sculpture, sculpting, sculpt, carve stone, talking stone, Ian Dave Knife , Ian Knife

Shona stone sculpture classes

Shona stone carving classes
Posted on Oct 9, 2019 | Last Updated Oct 9, 2019

Shona stone carving classes

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Sculpture classes, sculpture workshops, shona sculpture, sculpting, sculpt, carve stone, talking stone, Ian Dave Knife , Ian Knife

Art Students League of New York

Posted on Jan 6, 2019 | Last Updated Jan 6, 2019

Art Students League of New York

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my new location in Boulder Colorado

Studio 54 Boulder
Posted on Sep 4, 2014 | Last Updated Sep 4, 2014

my my new location in Boulder Colorado

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ian dave knife , artb

NORTH BOULDER STUDIO TOUR

NOBO first Fridsys
Posted on Sep 4, 2014 | Last Updated Sep 4, 2014

North Boulder artists will have open studio night Meetvthe artistsvin thryre art studio and support your local artists

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art , Boulder, ian knife, north bouldrr . First Friday , NOBO ,Buy art , Boulder artists , paintings , Sculptures BMOCA , DENVER MUSEUM

10 Dec 2010 opening at Wilder Nighting gale gallery in Taos

Posted on Dec 1, 2010 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

Ian D Knife art opening

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art,taos,sculpture,ian d knife

new colony

Posted on Apr 30, 2008 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

art

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stone sculpture, tin sculpture, clay sculpture , steel sculpture

new studio in Taos

Posted on Jan 16, 2008 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

art

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ian d knife

THE MIRACLE OF MOSES

Posted on Oct 3, 2007 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

TEXAS LIMESTONE SCULPTURE ALL HAND CARVED

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ian d knife, shona sculpture,zimbabwe,santa fe,southwest,new mexico marble sculptor, contemporary,zimbabwe

BRAND NEW WORKS

Posted on Sep 15, 2007 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

New works just in time for the fall.

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shoan, zimbabwe, chapungu, southwest , new mexico , marble sculptor,

new works

Posted on Aug 15, 2007 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

new works

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IAN DAVE KNIFE® Event

Posted on Aug 15, 2007 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

IAN DAVE KNIFE® Event

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Fresh Works

Posted on Aug 10, 2007 | Last Updated Jun 21, 2012

New sculptures by Ian Dave Knife for 2007.

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shona sculpture, zimbabwe art, contemporary

IAN DAVE KNIFE™

Jan 12, 2020

I love New York .

Traci

Sep 3, 2014

Love your work in all mediums. Look forward to seeing more.

John Griffis

Sep 17, 2006

Excellent examples of your work! Please post more photos!

ian knife

Feb 3, 2011

I will post more , John. I need more stone after the snows over.

Thank you

A piece I did in 2003 that is in the Private Estate Collection of Eugene Worrell in VA.

The piece is signed.

Victim of police brutality.  Located on St Marks place near 1st ave . New york city

This piece I executed at the Rockefeller lookout on the Palisades parkway in New Jersey.  Depicting the greedy Rockefeller 

This piece is located on Ave A and E 6th street. NYC

This piece is dedicated to the child separated from its family.

Located on 1st ave between  E 9th St. and St Mark's place.  NYC

A piece dedicated to East village artist, Theresa Byrnes. 

Located on E 7th street near Ave A. New york.

Poster I recieved from the Art & Architecture students at Norwich university for a lecture