Paulo Menezes is a photographer and lens-based artist based in Durban, South Africa. His work in documentary photography has allowed him to explore numerous spaces and subject matter both locally and internationally. With a keen interest in the archiving potential of photography, a large portion of his work naturally depicts Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
Paulo is co-founder of Contemporary Archive Project – an incubator for critical thinking and the development, presenting and safeguarding of new photographic works contributing to an ongoing archive of KwaZulu-Natal.
Commercially; Paulo works in areas including architecture, corporate, travel & lifestyle and photographic reproduction of artworks. Clients include Discovery Health, Sunday Times, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Durban Art Gallery, Durban Natural Science Museum, Kwa-Zulu Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA), Schoombie Hartmann and Uber Eats.
In 2013 Paulo completed a National Diploma in Photography through the Durban University of Technology. Paulo is former Vice Chairperson of the Durban Centre for Photography (DCP). In 2015 Paulo participated in Antoine D’Agata’s Studio Vortex residency in Arles, France. 2016 saw him selected for the Visual Arts Network of South Africa (VANSA) Open Office Research Residency in Johannesburg.
Outside of his work with organisations, Paulo freelances as a photographer and educator.
Exhibitions
2023, [re]present, Group exhibition, Contemporary Archive Project, KwaXimba, Inanda & eThekwini Beach, KwaZulu-Natal
2020, 1:1, Solo exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban
2019, Know This Place?, Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban
2018, Riptide, Group exhibition, Open Plan Studio, Durban
2016, Ngale: Seeing Beyond, Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban (Photographic Team Manager and Co-curator)*
2015, Reflections on Light: a group exhibition of scientists and artists, Group exhibition, artSPACE durban, Durban
2015, Studio Vortex residency work group screening, facilitated by Voies Off, Les Rencontres d'Arles Photographie 2015 Festival, Arles, France
2014, Durbanity (2nd Edition), Group exhibition, Cape Town Month of Photography Festival (MOP6), Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa*
2014, Ih-murj, public photographic street installation, UIA 2014 Parallel Project artist, Warwick Junction, Durban, South Africa
2014, Interface/Durbanity (2nd Edition), Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban. Co-curator*
2014, Aweh! ‘What u say ‘bout What?’, Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban. Intern co-curator (photography)
2014, What if this City, Group exhibition, DUT Art Gallery, Durban
2014, After 20 Years, 20 Artists, Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban
2014, Qal’ukubona #3 (‘Emerging Eyes’), Group exhibition, African Art Centre, Durban
2013, Durbanity, Group exhibition, KZNSA Gallery, Durban*
2013, Retour des Anges, Group exhibition, Les Rencontres d'Arles Photographie 2013 Festival, Arles, France*
2013, Retour des Anges, Group exhibition, Reunion Island*
* exhibitions as part of DCP collective