1:54, Europe’s leading international fair dedicated to contemporary African art, returns with an extensive programme following a hugely successful inaugural year.

This year, the fair will embrace both the East and West Wings of Somerset House, and will once again provide an unparralleled showcase of the worlds’s finest Contemporary African Art, running from 16 to 19 October 2014.

Spanning several generations and diverse artistic practices, 1:54 will showcase work from 24 selected galleries from territories such as Kenya, South Africa, France, Italy, Germany, UK and USA; presenting over 85 artists. 1:54 will feature a host of leading organisations from the global art scene who will gather in London to reveal a cross-sectional-insight into art from the continent.

Taking place during Frieze Week, the new fair builds upon the burgeoning popularity of contemporary African art and presents a rare opportunity to explore the rapidly emerging African art market in an environment supported by some of the most influential people and organisations in the art world. With mediums spanning painting, sculpture, photography and installation the fair will present visual art in its many dynamic forms.

This year, the fair is being exclusively redesigned in collaboration with award-winning architecture and design studio, RA Projects, established in 2009 by architect Rashid Ali. RA Projects has been widely recognised for their building projects as well as research activities, including being shortlisted for the prestigious Young Architect of the Year Award in 2008 and 2011.

Following the huge success of last year’s over-subscribed educational programme, 1:54 will be accompanied by a critical conversations series curated by Koyo Kouoh (Director, Raw Material Company in Dakar). The extensive programme will once again aim to stimulate discussion and debate with some of the art world’s most inspirational thinkers. The programme will comprise lectures, artist talks, film screenings and panel discussions presented by international curators, artists and leading experts in the field. Discussion topics will include the current trajectory of contemporary African art production and practice in a global context, and explore modes of existing, retrospective and theoretical artistic practice. Full details to be announced soon.

Touria El Glaoui, Founder of 1:54 says:

“The response to 1:54 has been incredible and it gives me great pleasure to increase the magnitude of the fair this year. With continued support from so many individuals and organisations, this year’s fair is set to be even more influential in encouraging the growth of contemporary African art in the international market place. 1:54 offers visitors the chance to experience and engage with contemporary art by both established African artists and with the rising talent from across the continent and the African Diaspora. This year we are expanding the fair to feature a wider range of artists – each of the highest calibre – we aim to act as a catalyst for generating momentum in this exciting emerging market.”

List of Galleries

Afronova, Johannesburg; Art 21, Lagos; Art Lab Africa, Nairobi; ARTCO Gallery, Herzogenrath; Carpe Diem, Ségou; Galerie Anne de Villepoix, Paris; Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Abidjan  ; Galerie Imane Farès, Paris; Galerie Mikael Andersen, Berlin; In Situ Fabienne Leclerc, Paris; Jack Bell Gallery, London; Knight Webb Gallery, London; M.I.A Gallery, Seattle; Magnin-A, Paris; October Gallery, London; Omenka Gallery, Lagos; Primo Marella Gallery, Milan; Purdy Hicks Gallery, London; Selma Feriani Gallery, London; Sitor Senghor, Paris; SMAC Art Gallery, Cape Town; Taymour Grahne, New York; Voice Gallery, Marrakech; WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town

List of artists

Aboudia, Derrick Adams, Armen Agop, Raja Aissa, Mustapha Akrim, Peju Alatise; Joel Andrianomearisoa, Mohamed Arejdal, Duke Asidere, Omar Ba, Younes Baba-Ali, Fayçal Baghriche, Roger Ballen, Sammy Baloji, Steve Bandoma, Wayne Barker, Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo, Armand Boua, Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, Serigne Mbaye Camara, Soly Cissé, Bruce Clarke, Nestor Da, Xiomara De Oliver, Sidi Diallo, Harandane Dicko, Omar Victor Diop, , Amahigueré Dolo, Godfried Donkor, Melvin Edwards, Mohamed El Baz, Rafik El Kamel, Meschac Gaba, François-Xavier Gbré, Maïmouna Guerresi, Romuald Hazoumè, Ayana V. Jackson, Kiripi Katembo, Yashua Klos, Jems Robert Koko Bi, Abdoulaye Konaté, Nicène Kossentini, Marcia Kure, Moshekwa Langa, Lawrence Lemaoana, John Liebenberg, Gonçalo Mabunda, Hamidou Maiga, Mustafa Maluka, Ernest Mancoba, Abu Bakarr Mansaray, Megumi Matsubara, Vincent Michéa, Fabrice Monteiro, Joel Mpah Dooh, Afi Nayo, Cheikh Ndiaye, Otobong Nkanga, Nongoma, Cédric Nunn, Musa Nxumalo, Boris Nzebo, Adjani Okpu-Egbe, Mauro Pinto, Cameron Platter, Younès Rahmoun, Ricardo Rangel, Athi-Patra Ruga, Virginia Ryan, Chéri Samba, Amadou Sanogo, Kura Shomali, Malick Sidibé, Paul Sika, Ki Siriky, Ransome Stanley, Houda Terjuman, Barthélémy Toguo, Pathy Tshindele, Eric Van Hove, Ouattara Watts, Billie Zangewa, Dominique  Zinkpé, Sandile Zulu

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