1-54 African Art Fair returns to Somerset House, London, 3 – 6 October 2019. 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has announced the 45 galleries from 19 countries exhibiting at its seventh London edition. (Image credit: Tuli Mekondjo – Grandmothers always have wise things to say)
As part of the programme of 1-54 Special Projects, the fair is partnering with Somerset House to present an exhibition of new and celebrated works from one of South Africa’s most prominent contemporary artists, Mary Sibande, which will run through to 5 January 2020. Kerryn Greenberg, Head of International Collection Exhibitions at Tate, has been invited to guest curate the 1-54 FORUM talks programme for the first time and will focus on the legacy of Nigerian curator Bisi Silva.
Founding Director of 1-54, Touria El Glaoui, commented: “Last Year, 1-54 welcomed over 18,000 people to Somerset House and has helped to build a growing global interest in contemporary African art. We are especially proud of expanding our programme across three continents in London, New York and more recently in Marrakech. We are delighted with the exciting line-up of galleries for our seventh edition in London and are honoured to be dedicating the 1-54 FORUM programme to the inspirational Bisi Silva and showcasing the amazing work of Mary Sibande as part of our Special Projects. It’s set to be our best fair yet and we look forward to welcoming new faces and old friends to Somerset House in October.”
Over the past seven years 1-54 has established itself as a leading voice in the global discussion on contemporary African art. 1-54 brings together a diverse set of perspectives from around the world, and has carefully selected 45 leading international galleries from 19 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America: Austria, Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Martinique, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Among the exhibitors this year are 16 galleries from Africa: Addis Fine Art, AFRONOVA GALLERY, AGorgi, Circle Art Gallery, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Gallery 1957, Guns & Rain, Kalashnikovv Gallery, L’Atelier 21, Loft Art Gallery, Mashrabia Gallery, Selma Feriani Gallery, SMITH, SMO Contemporary Art, Ubuntu Art Gallery, WHATIFTHEWORLD.
Of the 45 exhibitors, 15 galleries will be welcomed to the London fair for the first time including, Catinca Tabacaru Gallery, Claire Oliver Gallery, espace d’art contemporain 14°N 61°W, Galerie Ernst Hilger, Galleria Anna Marra, Guns & Rain, The Hole, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Luce Gallery, Mindy Solomon Gallery, Nil Gallery, Sakhile & Me, SMITH, Tabari Art Space and Ubuntu Art Gallery.
The fair will showcase the work of more than 140 emerging and established artists, working in a wide variety of mediums and from a range of geographical backgrounds comprising of other countries not already mentioned.
Nine solo exhibitions have been announced: Louisa Marajo (espace d’art contemporain 14°N 61°W), Alexandria Smith (Galleria Anna Marra), Godfried Donkor (Gallery 1957), Prinston Nnanna (The Hole), Anton Kannemeyer (HUBERTY & BREYNE GALLERY), Chourouk Hriech (L’Atelier 21), Michaela Younge (SMITH), Ibrahim El Salahi (Vigo Gallery), Mohau Modisakeng .(WHATIFTHEWORLD.
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