Izidro Duarte was born in Portugal but spent most of his childhood in Mozambique before moving to South Africa in 1953. He studied graphics at the Witwatersrand School of Art in Johannesburg where he then worked as a free-lance illustrator.

Later Duarte went to London where he furthered his studies at the Camden Art Institute. He travelled through Europe before returning to South Africa in 1968 when he began work as an illustrator of children’s books and magazines before embarking on his present art career in 1970.

Duarte’s interest and subject matter has always been the African environment in which he lives. He works in most mediums and also executes two- and three-dimensional sculpture and collages. His paintings and sculptures are mostly figurative, with the occasional excursion into wildlife.

Duarte has exhibited his work primarily in South Africa, but also in Botswana, England, Holland and Australia.