Cape Town, South Africa – The internationally acclaimed Bold Beauty Project (BBP), which originated in the United States and has become a global movement promoting visibility, dignity and inclusion, will be presented in South Africa for the very first time through a month-long exhibition at 33BREE in collaboration with The Artists Gallery.
For its African debut, the project has been reimagined through a uniquely local lens. Seventeen women from across the Western Cape have been newly photographed by a group of acclaimed South African photographers, creating an entirely new body of work that celebrates their individuality, resilience and personal journeys. Accompanied by their own stories, these striking large-scale portraits offer an intimate and deeply moving exploration of identity, beauty and representation.
Rather than focusing on disability, the exhibition invites visitors to see the women first, their personalities, their strength, their confidence and their humanity. Together, the portraits challenge long-held perceptions of beauty and encourage a broader, more inclusive understanding of what it means to be seen.
Originally founded by Shelly Baer and Dr. Eva Ritvo from the United States, the Bold Beauty Project has received widespread international recognition for its unique ability to spark meaningful conversations around disability, inclusion and representation through the language of photography.
The project’s most recent international milestone was its presentation at the 61st Venice Biennale (May–November 2026), where it formed part of the prestigious Personal Structures – Confluences exhibition at Palazzo Mora, organised by the European Cultural Centre. Displayed alongside more than 150 artists from over 40 countries, the exhibition attracted significant international attention.
Following previous international exhibitions in Panama, the Western Cape chapter represents the Bold Beauty Project’s first African exhibition and demonstrates how the universal language of photography can connect communities across cultures while giving voices to humans who too often remain unseen.
“Art has the unique ability to challenge perceptions without raising its voice. The Bold Beauty Project is not about disability; it is about visibility, dignity, and celebrating remarkable women exactly as they are. We are honoured to bring this internationally acclaimed project to South Africa for the first time and to present the powerful stories of seventeen extraordinary women from the Western Cape through the eyes of some respected photographers. This exhibition has been shaped from the ground up through genuine collaboration; Marlene Le Roux served as co-curator and mentor throughout the entire process, working closely with the stylists, photographers, and models to bring each story to life with authenticity and purpose. Her insight as a disability activist and her deep advocacy for visibility and dignity have been absolutely foundational to everything the Western Cape chapter of the Bold Beauty Project stands for. Together, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations that continue long after visitors leave our gallery space” says Jaret Loggenberg, Managing Director, The Artists Gallery & 33BREE.
“Persons with Disabilities must never be reduced to problems to be fixed, or hidden from view. This project is about sensuality, strength, and the radical act of accepting yourself fully with every challenge, every scar, every story. To be a Person with Disabilities is to navigate a world not built for you, and yet here we are. This exhibition gives voice to that truth through Art. It says: Look at her. See who she is. As she is” adds Marlene Le Roux, a Woman with a Disability.
As a non-profit initiative, the exhibition seeks to inspire dialogue, encourage inclusion and promote greater awareness through the power of visual storytelling. It celebrates diversity not as an exception but as an essential part of society, reminding visitors that beauty exists in countless forms and deserves to be recognised without limitation.
Presented under the exhibition title As She Is, the project is ultimately an invitation to move beyond assumptions, to see each woman not through labels or stereotypes, but through her individuality, courage and authentic presence.
The exhibition opens on 5 August as part of the HEAT Arts Festival, with The Artists Gallery participating as an official venue in the festival programme.
The exhibition itself will be presented at 33BREE, The Artists Gallery’s dedicated project and exhibition space 50 meters away from the main gallery in Cape Town’s city centre. Admission is free to the public throughout the exhibition period.
