The New Kid on the Block

Ultraviolet Gallery launches with UNO: A one-of-a-kind exhibition of single-edition photographic artworks.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Located in the heart of Cape Town’s CBD, Ultraviolet is a fresh and dynamic gallery space devoted exclusively to contemporary photography – bringing new energy to the local art scene.

Positioning itself as not just a space for art, but a space for perspectives, the gallery seeks to redefine how photography is experienced and acquired in Cape Town. Alongside its high-end limited and single-edition works, Ultraviolet is also offering a selection of open-edition pieces –affordable, frame-ready prints that are thoughtfully curated and beautifully presented.

“We want Cape Town residents and visitors to pop in, fall in love with an image, and be able to take it home – whether they’re a seasoned collector or a first-time art buyer,” says gallery founder and curator Dylan Culhane. “This is a gallery for anyone who values what photography can reveal.”

Ultraviolet’s inaugural exhibition, UNO, is a genre-defying photographic showcase featuring works from 13 of South Africa’s most exciting lens-based artists. UNO moves beyond the common practice of limited editions in fine art photography. Each photograph featured in the showcase is a true single-edition – printed once, at a specific size and format, and never to be reproduced or reprinted again.

The exhibition features works by:

• Dylan Culhane
• Kent Andreasen
• Andile Buka
• Johno Mellish
• Nolan Lister
• Sharday Swanepoel
• Sophie Smith
• William Sheepskin
• Gary van Wyk
• Leah Rolando
• Gabrielle Kannemeyer
• David Southwood
• John Second

“With UNO, we wanted to push the concept of rarity to its logical conclusion,” says Dylan Culhane. “Each photograph is a singular physical object. In a world saturated with imagery, this is a way of reclaiming photography as a deliberate, permanent, and materially unique art form.”

UNO is more than an exhibition; it offers collectors, first-time buyers, and the public the chance to engage with photography in its most elevated and intentional form, and to own a one-of-a-kind piece.

The exhibition runs until 1 November 2025 at Ultraviolet Gallery, 70 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town. | ultraviolet.art

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