Johannesburg’s Forest Town has gained a new landmark, one that promises to be the beating heart of visual arts on the continent. The Roger Ballen Centre for Photography (RBCP) opens its doors to Its third exhibition, marking a bold new chapter for African visual culture.
Image: Mr Roger Ballen at the opening night of , Fashion_The Image
Image: The Roger Ballen Centre For Photography exterior, designed by award-winning architect Joe van Rooyen
Founded by the internationally acclaimed photographer Roger Ballen, the Centre is a physical manifestation of a twenty-year dream. Designed by award-winning architect Joe van Rooyen, the space is a rarity: one of the few institutions in Africa dedicated entirely to the medium of photography. With three expansive halls and an extensive photographic bookstore, the RBCP is designed as a sanctuary for reflection, experimentation, and critical engagement, ranging from the archival to the avant-garde.
A New Centre for a Changing Medium
The RBCP is the latest initiative of the Inside Out Foundation, a non-profit organisation established to support cultural and educational projects in South Africa. It stands as a sophisticated sister to the Inside Out Centre for the Arts, with which it shares a mission to spark public engagement through the image.
While the Inside Out Centre continues to host multidisciplinary exhibitions, such as the poignant End of The Game, alongside music, poetry, and film, the new Photography Centre offers a dedicated, specialised space. It expands the Foundation’s vision with a rigorous focus on both local and international image-making.
Art is not just a form of expression, it’s a mirror to the times,” says Roger Ballen. “This Centre exists to ask questions, raise standards, and grow new audiences for photography and the visual arts in South Africa and beyond.”
The 3rd Exhibition Launch: “Fashion_The Image”
The Centre debuts its third exhibition, the launch of “Fashion_The Image” , which is an exhibition that surveys the intersection of Photography, style and identity.
Curated by Sharon Armstrong, Aspasia Karras, Dr. Erica de Greef, and Ayabukwa Magocoba, this exhibition brings together a formidable lineage of photographers who have shaped the global aesthetic:
The Icons: A focused presentation of the legendary Koto Bolofo, alongside works by Pieter Hugo and Kevin Mackintosh.
The Visionaries: Nontsikelelo Veleko, Nadine Ijewere, and Kristin-Lee Moolman showcase the defiance and beauty of contemporary African life.
The Contemporary Guard: Technical mastery from Aart Verrips, Tatenda Chidora, Nico Krijno, and Andile Buka.
The Significance: Why This Matters Now
The Roger Ballen Centre for Photography is more than just a gallery; it is a statement of intent. In an era of digital saturation, the RBCP provides a space for the “slow look”, a place where the photograph is treated with the gravity, permanence, and prestige it deserves. For Johannesburg, and for Africa, the RBCP is not just a new building; it is a homecoming for the gaze.
