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VELA PROJECTS
Jonathan Goschen
Vela Projects, a young but assured presence in South Africa’s gallery scene, is actively bringing the country’s art history into contemporary focus. Founded in 2022 by UCT alumni Jonathan Goschen, the gallery signalled its ambition early—its sixth exhibition was a striking retrospective of two prolific 20th-century South African artists, Peter Clarke (1929 – 2014) and Robert Hodgins (1920 – 2010). Accompanied by a detailed biographical catalogue and a panel discussion featuring art critic Sean O’Toole, Goodman Gallery curator Neil Dundas, art advisor Phillipa Duncan, and artist Songezo Zantsi, the show placed historical depth at the heart of Vela’s programme. In February 2025, the gallery followed with its second major retrospective: Rainmaker, a celebration of Samson Mnisi’s (1971 - 2022) interpretation of abstract expressionism in a South African context.
While Vela is not the first in South Africa to promote artworks from the secondary market into the primary (both Stevenson, Goodman Gallery, and Everard Read have also championed the importance of historical works in their respective programmes), it is certainly an encouraging addition to Cape Town’s current exhibition agenda. This shift, while still a relatively new approach locally, aligns with broader international gallery practices, where such integration has long been a hallmark. In a context where public funding for the arts sector continues to disappoint, the responsibility of preserving and promoting South Africa’s art history increasingly falls to private entities, including commercial galleries.
In addition to their focus on historical exhibitions, Vela proudly represents a curated selection of emerging and mid-career artists, both locally and internationally.
Founder and Director: Jonathon Goschen
ADDRESS
66 Plein Street,
Cape Town,
South Africa,
8000
RECENT ART FAIRS
Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2024