Nel is an artist-owned and directed gallery in Cape Town, it is on the corner of Long and Church Streets in what is referred to as the latest 'art node' in the city. Being artist-driven means a fair amount will speak to Luan’s artistic sensibilities and taste. For thirty years Luan, along with his partner Neil Pendock, has also collected art. This adds yet another dimension to what informs the curation. Luan hopes to keep an open mind and to veer away from an overt agenda but admits that his way of thinking is inherently queer, he tries to be aware of identity, sensitive to issues like the climate crisis and open to work that looks forward whilst being aware of the past. The gallery has solo, two-person and group exhibitions throughout the year. Nel mainly focuses on artists from Cape Town but works by artists from the rest of the country and further afield are also showcased. The type of work that Nel displays aims to fill the gaps the curator finds in the local art biosphere. Work that warrants attention excites this curator, irrespective of the artist's age, how fashionable the work or artist might be. "It is important to our vision that the work displayed needs to, on some level, surprise the viewer, whether it be a painting, a performance, or an installation. Irrespective of medium or genre we like to show work that draws you in"