Nelson Mandela Bay
South Africa
GFI Art Gallery
About Us
The Ron Belling Art Gallery was established in 2000 in Port Elizabeth. The focus has gradually shifted over the years with the changing times and the growing interest in the visual arts arena. The Gallery name has since been changed to the Gutsche Family Investment Art Gallery (GFI Art Gallery) and the building has over the years been sensitively adjusted to accommodate its ever changing role.
The Gallery is a landmark building on Park Drive in Port Elizabeth and is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. In 1936, Axel Stockelbach, then managing director of Ford South Africa, commissioned the first woman Architect to qualify in South Africa, Gertruida Brinkman, to design his house, “Ridgewood”.
The house was purchased in 1988 by Port Elizabeth businessman, Philipp Rowland Gutsche Senior. On his death in 2000, leaving behind a legacy of charity and goodwill, it was his wish that the residence be converted into an art gallery.
The purpose at the time was to house the Ron Belling Military Aviation Collection of Oil Paintings which had been acquired by the Gutsche family.
To this day Mr Gutsche’s daughter, Dorothea Moors, chairs the Gallery Board and together with the Board Members and Gallery Staff, Mr Gutsche’s legacy is upheld through the passionate promotion of visual arts in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
Current Exhibition
M A U R E E N Q U I N
SELECTED WORKS FROM MY YEARS OF SCULPTING
This exhibition, the last in my 90th year, is not a retrospective but rather a collection of selected works from my years of sculpting. These sculptures, which may have been overlooked in previous exhibitions, have brought me immense satisfaction both in their creation and in the experience of revisiting them. I have poured my heart, soul, and passion into each piece. It is interesting to note that some of my more recent work has strong connections to pieces from the 1980s. The aspects of my sculptures that resonate most with viewers often include their emotional intensity and the physicality of their forms. People seem to connect with the energy and strength embodied in the sculptures, as well as the underlying narratives and themes they represent. Additionally, the contrast between the muscular forms and the space they occupy invites contemplation and interpretation, allowing viewers to engage with the work on multiple levels. By showcasing works in progress, I hope to provide viewers with insight into the creative process: from conceptualization to implementation. These latest creations draw on my love for the muscular form and bone structure of the human body, expressing movement through space with energy and strength. I believe they reflect the times we live in.
Dates: 7 FEB – 17 MAR 2025 for public viewing
Upcoming Exhibitions
MAUREEN QUIN SOLO: 6 Feb -17 Mar 2025
STANDARD BANK ART COLLECTION: 27 Mar – 3 Jun 2025
VULINDLELA NYONI SOLO: 12 Jun – 16 Jul 2025
BEV DE LANGE & NOMTHUNZI MASHALABA: 24 Jul – 27 Aug 2025
THE CREATIVE BLOCK & EASTERN CAPE CERAMIC REGIONALS: 4 Dec – Jan 2026