Fresh from a successful New York debut earlier this year, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair resumes its annual platform at Somerset House this October, 15–18, to unveil its most substantial showcase yet. Held across three elegant exhibition wings, 36 exhibitors have been selected to present the most rigorous and exciting works of over 150 contemporary artists from Africa and the African diaspora.

The third London edition will be designed by award-winning architectural and design studio RA Projects established in 2009 by architect Rashid Ali. RA Projects will insert a series of richly coloured sculptural interventions across the East, South, and West Wings, while remaining sensitive to the architectural historicity of Somerset House, one of London’s finest Grade I listed buildings.

1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair will also host FORUM, October 15–18, as a critical four-day conversations series comprising artist talks, panel discussions and film screenings curated by Koyo Kouoh, Artistic Director of RAW Material Company.

Selected exhibitors for London will hail from a multitude of geographies including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, France, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the USA. In addition to these territories, 1:54 welcomes new additions from Spain, Sweden, Benin, and Angola.

Alongside notable expansion and a wider geographical coverage, 1:54 is delighted to recommence SPECIAL PROJECTS this October with contributions from Qubeka Bead Studio, Cape Town; Fondation Zinsou, Cotonou; and BASMOCA, Jeddah. Additionally, artist Hassan Hajjaj – Larache Studio, London will transform the VIP Lounge into a vibrant and immersive salon tributing Moroccan interiors, fashion, and culture, edged with motifs of global commerce.

1:54 continues its dedication to supporting emergent organisations, initiatives, and non-profit art spaces through this section of the fair, whereby up to three exhibitors are invited to formalise a presentation on their activity within a localised cultural ecology. The inclusion of additional voices and perspectives further consolidates the platform’s integrity as a leading international fair uniquely dedicated to the promotion of African and African diasporic artworks.

EXHIBITORS London 2015:

(S)itor, Paris / Afronova, Johannesburg / Art Twenty One, Lagos / APALAZZOGALLERY, Brescia / ArtLabAfrica, Nairobi / ARTCO Gallery, Aachen / Axis Gallery, New York / CIRCA Gallery, Johannesburg / Ed Cross Fine Art, London / Fondation Donwahi, Abidjan / Galerie Anne de Villepoix, Paris / Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Abidjan / Galerie Jérôme Poggi, Paris / Galerie Maïa Muller, Paris / Galerie MAM, Douala / Galleri Flach, Stockholm / GALLERY AOP, Johannesburg / GVCC, Casablanca / In Situ / Fabienne Leclerc, Paris / Jack Bell Gallery, London / Johans Borman Fine Art, Cape Town / KooVha Gallery, Harare / MAGNIN-A, Paris / Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Seattle / October Gallery, London / Omenka Gallery, Lagos / Primo Marella Gallery, Milan / Sabrina Amrani Gallery, Madrid / Selma Feriani Gallery, Tunis / Tamar Golan Gallery, Luanda / Tiwani Contemporary, London / Vigo Gallery, London

SPECIAL PROJECTS BASMOCA (Basma Al Sulaiman Museum of Contemporary Art), Jeddah / Qubeka Bead Studio, Cape Town / Fondation Zinsou, Cotonou / DESIGN Hassan Hajjaj – Larache Studio, London

Somerset House, Strand, London
15–18 October 2015
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 12–8pm, Sunday, 12–6pm
www.1-54.com