A fine art photography gallery in Cape Town preserving South African history while building a living archive for the present.
Gallery F is a fine art photography gallery in Cape Town, located on Shortmarket Street in the city centre, dedicated to preserving, exhibiting and selling rare and collectible South African photography.
Gallery F was established as an extension of PAPA-SA, founded in 2002 to locate, preserve and safeguard South Africa’s photographic heritage.
More than eight decades of photography, from rare signed vintage handprints to contemporary works by established and emerging photographers.
An archive-led gallery rooted in preservation, exhibition and long-term cultural care.
Gallery F was established as an extension of the Photographic Archival & Preservation Association of South Africa (PAPA-SA). Founded in 2002, PAPA-SA works to locate, preserve and safeguard South Africa’s photographic heritage, while Gallery F was created to bring this work to a wider audience through exhibitions, sales and representation, ensuring that preserved works continue to be seen, collected and valued.
The Gallery F collection spans more than eight decades, from rare, signed vintage hand-printed photographs of historical importance to contemporary fine art photography by both established and emerging photographers. While the foundation of the collection is rooted in analogue photography, the archive has expanded to include more recent work, including selected digital projects, allowing for a broader representation of Africa’s photographic voice.
In addition to representing some of South Africa’s most important photographic estates, Gallery F is building a contemporary archive that connects the past with the present, preserving the nation’s visual heritage while actively investing in its photographic future.
Built on preservation, shaped by stewardship.
Gallery F is led by Gavin Furlonger and Sean Furlonger, whose work connects archival preservation with active gallery management, collector engagement and long-term growth.
Gavin Furlonger
A specialist in photographic preservation and archival documentation, Gavin Furlonger founded The Photographic Archival And Preservation Association (PAPA-SA) to safeguard South Africa’s endangered photographic works, ensuring they are carefully archived and accessible for future generations. His expertise in archival photography, negative restoration and fine art print preservation has played a crucial role in protecting historically significant imagery.
In 2002, Gavin established Gallery F as a platform to promote and sell fine art photography, allowing collectors to acquire rare limited-edition prints. His work continues to shape the appreciation and recognition of South African fine art photography both locally and internationally.
Sean Furlonger
Sean Furlonger joined Gallery F full-time in 2020 as a partner and manager, overseeing the gallery’s curation, sales and expansion efforts. With a deep passion for photographic storytelling and historical preservation, Sean is focused on growing Gallery F’s international presence, connecting collectors, institutions and contemporary photographers with the gallery’s extensive fine art photography collection.
Sean also plays a key role in PAPA-SA, assisting in the preservation and documentation of South Africa’s photographic heritage. Together with Gavin, Gallery F has strengthened its position as a premier destination for South African fine art photography, offering collectors and enthusiasts access to rare and significant works.
Exhibitions, preservation work and international collaboration.
Our work spans exhibitions, archival preservation and global outreach. Some recent projects include:
Beyond the Lens
Our relaunching exhibition featuring both historic works.
Norman Seeff: Homecoming
Co-curated with Karel Nel at the Norval Foundation.
Strauss & Co Photography Auction
Record-breaking sale of Jürgen Schadeberg’s signed Miriam Makeba print.
Photo Doc, Paris
Collaboration with Bonne Espérance Gallery to showcase the work of Juhan Kuus.
Archival Preservation
Safeguarding around 1 million negatives in PAPA-SA’s care.
African Photography Expansion
In partnership with Random Photo Journal, we are expanding our archival efforts into African photography, preserving and promoting important bodies of work from across the continent.
Gallery F’s expansion into African photographic preservation is reflected in its partnership with Random Photo Journal and its broader commitment to protecting visual memory across the continent.
Read articleBuilding a stronger future for South African photography within a wider African context.
We aspire to establish Gallery F as a global leader in South African photography, while expanding our presence within the broader African photographic landscape. Looking ahead, our focus is on securing a larger, permanent gallery space, strengthening our participation in international photography fairs and events and growing both local and international online sales.
Alongside this, we are committed to expanding our contemporary archive in dialogue with our historic collection, ensuring that Gallery F continues to support living photographers while safeguarding the photographic legacy of the past.
Photography is not only an art form. It is visual evidence, cultural memory and historical record.
Preservation
Important photographic archives are fragile. Without active care, prints, negatives and historical records can be lost, damaged or permanently dispersed.
Access
By exhibiting and placing works into collections, Gallery F helps ensure these photographs remain visible and part of ongoing public and scholarly conversation.
Continuity
Gallery F connects historic bodies of work with contemporary practice, creating a stronger sense of continuity across generations of photographers.
Value
Collecting photography helps sustain artists, estates and archives while reinforcing the long-term cultural value of photographic work from South Africa and the continent.