“Although my work is constantly changing, I generally like to portray various aspects of human life, as well as nature. I like to convey human emotions and phenomena through birds and other themes that I observe in nature and in the people that live around me.”
Collen was born into a family of eight in Ruwa in 1967. He did his primaryeducation in Ruwa before attending Rufuningoko High School in Bromley. When Collen completed his secondary education his parents passed away and he found employment as a temporary teacher. During this period he met Nicholas Mukomberanwa and became a student at his workshop. Collen showed a talent for painting at school and Nicholas encouraged him to pursue this talent as well as sculpting.
Collen is married with two children and has had to pursue art on a part time basis whilst working for the ministry of education until 1994 when he decidedto devote all of his time to sculpting. He received assistance and guidance from Nicholas in setting up his workshop (Pamuzinda) along with Itayi Tauzeniand Gerald Takawira.