1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will return to Somerset House from 12 – 15 October 2023 (Press & VIP Preview on 12 October).
This year’s edition hosts 62 international exhibitors from over 30 countries, the fair’s largest edition to date.
Of the 62 international exhibitors, 14 galleries will participate in the fair’s London edition for the first time. Newcomers include Affinity Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria), Efie Gallery (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Asfalto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Krystel Ann Art (Lisbon, Portugal), Hannah Traore Gallery (New York, USA), and The African Art Hub (London, UK), among others.
New and returning exhibitors will present over 170 artists working across an array of mediums from painting and sculpture to mixed media and installation. Works from established artists such as Joana Choumali, Ibrahim El-Salahi and Soly Cissé to young and emerging artists including Josué Comoe, Anya Paintsil and Edozie Anedu will be on view.
Specially commissioned for the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, the Moroccan artist Amine El Gotaibi presents his most ambitious work to date: 'Illuminate the Light' in collaboration with MCC Gallery in Marrakech, Morocco. The artist presents twelve individual geometric sculptures inspired by the seeds of a pomegranate that vary widely in shape and colour, to represent the diversity and abundance of the African continent. Wielding light as a solid medium within the sculptures, El Gotaibi also uses light as a metaphor to foster positive stories of Africa to counter the West’s frequent stereotypes of the 'dark continent'. At dusk, the sculptures transform into luminous installations, underscoring the artist’s philosophy that 'out of darkness, light emerges'.
1-54 London– DATES AND TIMES
Press Preview & VIP Preview
11:00 – 19:00, Thursday, 12 October
Public opening hours
11:00 – 19:00 , Friday, 13 October
11:00 – 19:00, Saturday, 14 October
11:00 – 18:00, Sunday ,15 October
