The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has returned to London, where it opened its 12th edition on Thursday, running concurrently with Frieze London. The fair will once again take over a part of Somerset House, which despite a fire on its roof over the summer has remained committed to hosting 1-54. (The galleries where the annual fair takes place were not directly impacted by the fire, which is still being investigated.)
As one of the leading global art fairs dedicated to championing the diverse works of artists from Africa and the diaspora, this edition of 1-54 has brought together over 60 international galleries, a third of which are from the African continent. This iteration has the fair’s highest number of first-time exhibitors and has a special spotlight on Brazilian, Ghanaian, and Moroccan artists and galleries.
“The diversity and richness of the artworks on display reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of contemporary African art, and we are thrilled to be able to provide a platform that celebrates the talents of both established and emerging artists”, 1-54’s founding director Touria El Glaoui told ARTnews.
Below, a look at the best booths at 1-54 London, which closes on October 13.
Megan Gabrielle Harris at OOA Gallery