What to Know about the 2023 Edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to London’s Somerset House this week, welcoming more than 60 international exhibitors—the most to date—for its 11th edition. Taking place from October 12 to 15 in person, and online via Artsy through October 29, the fair highlights rising and established artists from the African Diaspora, with this year’s roster posing a strong female presence and the greatest number of galleries from the African continent thus far.
“We are delighted to welcome more galleries than ever before with a significant number of galleries based on the continent,” said Founding Director Touria El Glaoui. “Alongside our established artists you will encounter emerging artists who we are proud to present at the start of their careers. Over the past 11 years, numerous artists have had their international debut at our fair and are now established figures in the art market, and we hope to continue this as we enter our next decade.”
Bahati Simoens, “Start the way you wanna finish,” 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 121 x 91.4 cm; courtesy of the artist
1-54 London Welcomes Newcomers and Returning Galleries
Presenting for the very first time are art spaces like Hanna Traore Gallery from New York, the Lisbon-based Krystel Ann Art, Affinity Gallery of Lagos, Dubai’s Efie Gallery, The African Art Hub hailing from London, and Rio de Janeiro gallery Asfalto. Other participating galleries include spaces like DADA Gallery, Eric Dupont, AFIKARIS, Wunika Mukan Gallery, THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE, So Art Gallery, Kanbi Projects, Gallery Nosco, Berman Contemporary, 193 Gallery, (S)ITOR, GALLERY 1957, L’Atelier 21, Nil Gallery, MOVART, SEPTIEME Gallery, and more.
On view will be presentations of work by more than 170 artists, including those like Hugo McCloud at Luce Gallery, Romuald Hazoumè represented by October Gallery, Zanele Muholi on view with Galerie Carole Kvasnevski, Sakhile&Me bringing the work of Adelaide Damoah, Sujay Shah on view with Circle Art Gallery, work by Chris Soal with WHATIFTHEWORLD, work by Charlotte Yonga presented by Versant Sud, and 50 Golborne showing work by Temandrota.
Alain Joséphine, “Sans titre 168,” 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 210 × 195 cm, Courtesy of TAFETA.
Programming at 1-54 London Expands Beyond the Booths
In addition to the main section at 1-54 London, fairgoers should be on the lookout for a number of other programming and presentations. For the second iteration of 1-54 Presents, part of an ongoing partnership with Christie’s, encompasses a pop-up exhibition at the auction house’s London space. Open from October 9—14, this year’s iteration features the group presentation “Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Natives in Contemporary Art,” looking at cultural similarities in the diaspora’s many generations and geographies.
What’s New at the Fair This Year
New to the fair this year, 1-54 has joined in partnership with the fragrance house Infiniment Coty Paris, which will bring a gallery of African artworks accompanied by its 14 new fragrances, revealed ahead of their worldwide launch in 2024. Also worth note are special projects and happenings like an AR, three-dimensional experience concerning digital technology and the Rosetta Stone by LOOTY and the archaeologist Monica Hana, Amine El Gotaibi’s monumental commission with MCC Gallery, Illuminate the Light, which will inhabit the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, and conversations with artists and experts like Emilie Demon, Anne-Marie Beckmann, James Barnor, Sagal Ali, Jennie Baptiste, Adama Sanneh, and Lakwena.
Anya Paintsil, “Jazzy and Snazzy,” 2022, Acrylic, Wool, Alpaca, Synthetic Hair, Human Hair and Hair Ties on Hessian, 25 x 26 inches; courtesy of Hannah Traore Gallery.
Charlotte Yonga, “Couple à la Somone,” 2021, analog photography, 40 x 50 cm, courtesy of Versant Sud.
