Tucked down a side road off Bree Street, is a breathtaking constellation of spaces where white walls, punctuated by vivid, inspiring artworks, segue into the street aesthetics of a curated collection of couture fashion.
As a whole, it yields that uncommon phenomenon where one is at once observer and participant – intrinsic to the moment, the art, the couture and the ink (yes, there’s a micro tattoo parlour too). While the gallery is certainly drawing the cognoscenti, influencers, the hot and the cool, it is far more than a destination. It is a rare visual experience, a sensorial delight.
And appropriately, it is named Rare Gallery.
Founder Henry explains: “Rare Gallery is a collective of different worlds. We have combined high-end art with luxury couture to bring a whole new rare experience, something neither Cape Town nor South Africa has seen yet.” It opened on 17 June 2022 and is an extension of Henry’s passion for expression and his unique sense of style.
The art
The current exhibition, showing until early January showcases artists such as Gavin Thomson, Nicola Roos, Fhatuwani Mukheli, Buqaqawuli Nobakada.
New artists are showcased every two months. “One of our goals is to support upcoming arcane artists who don’t have the platform to get their work and name out there,” says Henry. “We have the perfect platform to help young, creative individuals with a lot of potential garner experience and bring their work to the attention of the world.”
The couture
Upstairs, you’ll find Rare Luxury. “High-end couture is sought after all over the world and what better place to bring this type of clothing to than Africa?” asks Henry. “The brands that we choose to resell in our store are all high-end, big names.” He’s not overstating things. Alongside Rare’s own creations, you’ll find those of Balenciaga, Cartier, Dior and Palm Angels, Lanvin, Amiri, Off-White and Catalina. It’s a sleek, desirable eclectic fusion that works.
Rare Mode is Henry’s streetwear brand. What started out as a source for custom-designed jeans, grew into a capsule wardrobe that was snapped up by “both famous individuals as well as influencers”. The opportunity for a curated, collaborative collection was clear.
“Clothing is a form of art. And that’s what we love. It makes sense. Not many people get the opportunity to see some of these items, whether it’s the couture or the art. For us, making that rare experience possible is what we want to achieve.”
Henry and his team have created a cultural hub where members of the community, whether they’re artists or collectors – or neither, can meet and inspire one another. If promoting expression, inspiration and innovation is his aim, what is his vision of the future?
“Short-term, we’re planning a massive RARE party with local acts on the line-up as well as some crazy headliners. We are doing this for the culture. It’s a wave that won’t stop once it gets going and in the medium term, there’ll be more public and private events to promote the gallery. Long-term, we plan to take over the world and expand on a global level.”
Artists are welcome to submit their portfolios to the email list.garber@theraregallery.com or raregallery@icloud.com. There is no guarantee that they will be chosen however all submissions will be considered.
Rare Gallery is open: Tue to Fri, 10am – 6pm; Sat 11am – 5pm
Find it: 6 Watson Street (around the corner from Pizza Shed), Cape Town City Centre
Contact Rare Gallery on: 074 784 2986, Instagram: @raregallery_
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