1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will return to Somerset House for its eleventh edition 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.

Participating Artists

Abdoulaye Konaté, Abu Bakarr Mansaray, Adegboyega Adesina, Adelaide Damoah, Agnes Waruguru, Ahmed Hajoubi, Aicha Filali, Aïcha Snoussi, Aïda Muluneh, Alain Joséphine, Alexis Peskine, Amani Bodo, Amina Rezki, Amine El Gotaibi, Amna Elhassan, Ange Dakouo, Angèle Etoundi Essamba, Anne Adams, Anya Paintsil, April Kamunde, Athenkosi Kwinana, Athi-Patra Ruga, Austin Uzor, Ayogu Kingsley, Ayoola Gbolahan, Àsìkò, Babajide Olatunji, Bahati Simoens, Berni Searle, Bertina Lopes, Bertô, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Bria Fernandes, Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Charlotte Yonga, Chiderah Bosah, Chris Soal, Christa David, Collins Obijiaku, Cow Mash, Cydne Jasmin Coleby, Damilola Onosowobo, Dan Halter, Dominique Zinkpè, Driaan Claassen, DuduBloom More, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Elena El Asmar, Emmie Nume, Enam Gbewonyo, Epheas Maposa, Eric Adjei Tawiah,  Everlyn Nicodemus, Fathi Hassan, Fredrick Botchway, Georgina Maxim, Giana de Dier, Godelive Kasangati Kabena, Godwin Champs Namuyimba, Gopal Dagnogo, Gustavo Nazareno, Hako Hankson, Hasnae El Ouarga, Hazel Mphande, Hervé Yamguen, Houda Terjuman, Huda Lutfi, Hugo McCloud, Ibrahim Ballo, Ibrahim Bamidele, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Isabelle. D, J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije, Jacques Zigoma, Jean David Nkot, Jean-Servais Somian, Jill Berelowitz, Joana Choumali, Joël Andrianomearisoa, Johanna Mirabel, John Phalane, Josué Comoe, Kaleab Abate, Khadija Jayi, Kirubel Melke, Kpe Innocent, Kwadwo A Asiedu, Kwaku Yaro, Kyle Weeks, Lakin Ogunbanwo, Lakwena Maciver, Larissa de Souza, Leila Rose Fanner, Louis Barthélemy, LR Vandy, Lulama Wolf, M’barek Bouhchichi, Malangatana Ngwenya, Mar+Vin, Marcus Deusdedit, Mário Macilau, Marlon Amaro, Mashudu Nevhutalu, Mbali Dhlamini, Mercy Thokozane, Minah Meriem Bouderbala, Michaela Younge, Mmagaliso Nzuza, Modou Dieng Yacine, Modou Niang, Mouhcine Rahaoui, Mustapha Azeroual, Mwenze Kibwanga, Nabil El Makhloufi, Nabil Saoubi, Nicole Rafiki, Niyi Olagunju, Nkechi Ebubedike, Oluwole Omofemi, Omar Gabr, Omar Mahfoudi, Ousmane Bâ, Ousmane Niang, Owusu-Ankomah, Ozioma Onuzulike, Pascal Konan , Pedro Pires, Prince Gyasi, Raymond Fuyana, Reinata Sadimba, René Tavares, Roméo Mivekannin, Romuald Hazoumè, Ryan Cosbert, Salah Elmur, Samuel Fosso, Samuel Nnorom, Sanaa Gateja, Senzeni Marasela, Seyni Awa Camara, Slimen Elkamel, Soji Adesina, Soly Cissé, Souad Abdelrasoul, Stacey Gillian Abe, Sujay Shah, Talia Ramkilawan, Tatenda Chidora, Tegene Kunbi, Temandrota, Teresa Roza d’Oliveira, Terrence Musekiwa, Theresa Weber, Theresa-Anne Mackintosh, Theresah Ankomah, Tiemar Tegene, Tinyiko Makwakwa, Togo Yeye, Trevor Stuurman, Turiya Magadlela, Victor Fidelism, Victor Sonoiki, Victor Ubah, Walid Ardhaoui, Wendimagegn Belete, Willys Kezi, Yassine Balbzioui, Yonatan Wondwosen, Yvanovitch Mbaya, Zana Masombuka, Zanele Muholi

Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Narratives in Contemporary Art

1-54 Presents also announces Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Narratives in Contemporary Art, a group exhibition presented on the occasion of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair’s 11th London edition. On view at Christie’s, London from 10 – 13 October 2023, this exhibition brings together a curated selection of works by artists from the Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora to explore cultural similarities across generations and geographies. Transatlantic Connections is the second-ever show by 1-54  Presents, a new programme of pop-up exhibitions by 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, and will feature work by Juan Carlos Alom, Sonia Elizabeth Barrett, Sonia Boyce, Helen Cammock, Michael Forbes, Satch Hoyt, Nadia Huggins, Alain Joséphine, Anina Major, Marcia Michael, Johanna Mirabel, Lavar Munroe, Horace Ové, Zak Ové, Ada M. Patterson, Sheena Rose, Jamilah Sabur, Charmaine Watkiss, Alberta Whittle, Aubrey Williams. 

Spanning works across painting, photography, installation, and sculpture, this presentation is rooted in twentieth century Martinican thinkers Aimé Césaire’s concept of Négritude – the notion that black peoples share a collective identity, consciousness and culture – and Edouard Glissant’s theory of The Rhizome. As such, whilst aesthetically varied, the exhibition looks at the rich tapestry of creative practices, experiences, and narratives shared across the Caribbean and its diaspora, despite the archipelago’s sociological and historical diversity.

Traversing individual experiences and collective identities, Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Narratives in Contemporary Art brings together a range of works from some of the most exciting modern and contemporary Caribbean artists of the last 50 years. Additionally, falling within the 75th anniversary year of the MV Empire Windrush’s arrival in the UK, Transatlantic Connections hopes to spotlight and celebrate the significant contributions of Afro-Caribbean artists to the cultural fabric of their adopted homelands, and the wider world.

Special Projects

Amine El Gotaibi ‘Illuminate the Light’: Monumental installation specially commissioned for Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court.

artHARARE: A presentation of artworks by leading Zimbabwean emerging visual artists

Nubuke Foundation: Afroscope, Alice Raymond and Kwaku Opoku presented works born from their collaborations with women’s textile weaving collectives and Nubuke Foundation’s Centre for Textile and Clay in Wa, Ghana

The Evil Genius: ‘The Evil Genius’ collection is a remarkable, first-of-its-kind fusion of contemporary African art and music. The Nigerian recording artist Mr Eazi commissioned 16 unique pieces, each corresponding to a track from his forthcoming album of the same name.

Spier Arts trust: Nando’s patronage of contemporary Southern African art, through close partnership with Spier Arts Trust, both enables career development opportunities for artists and the curation of Nando’s body of work.

LOOTY عودة راشد Return Rashid!, 2023, XR/AR 3D installation: With renowned professor and archaeologist Monica Hana, LOOTY executed a daring “Digital Heist” at the British Museum, utilising cutting-edge LiDAR technology to record detailed scans of the Rosetta Stone (Hajar Rashid)

Theresah Ankomah, Yɛ yɛ dɔm, 2023: The 2023 edition of 1-54 London will see renowned artist Theresah Ankomah present a new woven installation titled Yɛ yɛ dɔm within the soaring rotunda of Somerset House’s Nelson Staircase.

Public opening hours

11:00 – 19:00 , Friday, 13 October

11:00 – 19:00, Saturday, 14 October

11:00 – 18:00, Sunday ,15 October

1-54.com/london