The South London photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses introduces us to Selah, a massive solo exhibition at the contemporary gallery space 180 Studios open until August 31. Young and prolific, the kind of creative hotshot major brands can't resist, his sixteen-room exhibition combines portrait work, commercial projects, music videos, and experimental film. Son of a Nigerian family, Moses juxtaposes his past and present within the rich tapestry of British cultures. After Regina—his first monograph at 180—this exhibition comes across as a statement of artistic establishment working on his legacy, exploring his evolution on a larger and more interactive scale, including the premiere of a new short film, The Last Hour.
A self-taught and passionate artist, the youngest photographer to shoot a cover for DAZED magazine quickly gained attention and became a sought-after creative for brands like Nike, Dior, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton, while also creating iconic visuals for Travis Scott and Pharrell Williams, most recently being selected as the trophy designer for this year's BRIT Awards. His fashion, commercial, and music video work has quickly given him artistic freedom and a distinctive voice, which seems to be evolving from experimental into a more narrative, storytelling direction.
Selah brings together photographs and short films, including his work with musicians Travis Scott and Playboi Carti in FE!N, Schoolboy Q in Lost Times, and portraits of Shawn, Skepta, Alek Wek, and footballer Jude Bellingham. His photography work is characterised by dark and contrasted light with sombre tonalities, somewhere between snapshot and staged photography, focused on style rather than technicalities. Young and brave, Moses is always interested in opening the gates and letting you in with his unique sense of humanity. The exhibition offers a chance to slow down and engage with the depth and range of his work, revealing a practice that balances introspection with bold creative expression.
Arguably his most ambitious work to date, The Last Hour is a short film that follows a man in his final 24 hours of life in pursuit of redemption. Moses addresses the urgency of seizing the day, challenging the way of thinking that assumes we still have all the time to achieve anything we want, a philosophy that absolutely resonates with his prolific career at this stage of his life. The Last Hour is a clear indication of this shift, where his signature dark, contemplative tones carry the story and add deeper meaning to the narrative. Shot in Atlanta, Georgia, with his strong sense of cinematography and casting, it was only a matter of time before he embarked on long-format storytelling.
Moses proves that talent and determination matter more than formal credentials, landing a gig at 18 with Nike through a film made with friends—no art school degree, no industry connections, just clear vision and the guts to walk into that room and act like he belonged there. While others debate whether they're ready, Moses was already travelling across Europe for Adidas, learning on the job and never letting anyone question his place in those spaces. Now, with international exhibitions in spaces like Permanent in Paris or Frieze in Seoul, his trajectory speaks to what's possible when vision meets relentless execution.
Selah is curated by Katja Horvat in collaboration with 180 Studios, with spatial design by Emilia Margulies and graphic identity designed by Jayda Deans, and runs until 31 August, 2025.
