A new exhibition at one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most iconic art spaces is inviting visitors to question what is real in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
The GFI Art Gallery in Gqeberha is currently hosting REALITY, a group exhibition featuring the work of Llise Dodd, Leon Hugo, Wehrner Lemmer and Lisa Walker. Open to the public until 25 August 2026, the exhibition explores how technology, memory, observation and imagination influence the way we experience the world.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life, the exhibition asks visitors to reflect on authenticity, perception and the blurred line between what is tangible and what is digitally constructed.
Four artists, four perspectives
Each artist approaches the theme of reality through a different medium.
Visitors can expect a diverse collection of paintings, photography, sculpture and ceramics, with every piece offering a unique interpretation of what reality means in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Together, the exhibition creates a conversation around how human creativity continues to evolve alongside technological innovation, encouraging audiences to slow down, observe and ask deeper questions about the world around them.
A gallery with a remarkable history
The GFI Art Gallery is housed in one of Gqeberha’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture on Park Drive.
Originally built in 1936 as the private residence Ridgewood, the home was designed by Gertruida Brinkman, the first woman to qualify as an architect in South Africa, for Axel Stockelbach, then Managing Director of Ford South Africa.
The property was later purchased by businessman Philipp Rowland Gutsche Senior, who wished for the home to become an art gallery following his passing in 2000.
Originally established as the Ron Belling Art Gallery, it was created to house the renowned Ron Belling Military Aviation Collection before evolving into today’s GFI Art Gallery, which continues to champion visual arts across the Eastern Cape and beyond.
The gallery remains under the guidance of Dorothea Moors, who chairs the Gallery Board and continues her father’s legacy of supporting artists and making quality visual art accessible to the community.
Plan your visit
The REALITY exhibition is open for public viewing from 24 July to 25 August 2026 at the GFI Art Gallery on Park Drive in Gqeberha.
Art lovers can also look forward to a busy exhibition calendar later this year, including showcases by the Photography Club, Bretten-Anne Moolman and Bianca Whitehead, before the return of The Creative Block exhibition.
Whether you’re an avid collector, a casual gallery-goer or simply curious about the intersection of art and technology, REALITY promises an engaging and thought-provoking experience.
For more information about the gallery and upcoming exhibitions, visit the GFI Art Gallery website.
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