1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which will return to Brooklyn’s Pioneer Works for its third New York edition May 5–7, has announced its list of exhibiting dealers and artists.
The diminutive fair is slightly larger for 2017, up two galleries to 19 overall. The make-up is drastically different than the previous edition, however, with eight first-time exhibitors, including New York’s Taymour Grahne Gallery; MOV’ART Gallery of Luanda, Angola; and Rosenfeld Porcini, London. Also returning to the fold is VOICE Gallery of Marrakech, Morocco, who last appeared at the New York fair’s inaugural 2015 run. A total of seven galleries are not returning this year including Mariane Ibrahim Gallery (Seattle) and Richard Taittinger Gallery (New York).
For director Touria El Glaoui, who founded the fair in London in 2013, presenting a new mix of galleries each year is an essential part of its success. “It’s part of our strategy,” she told artnet News. “We are very excited to present a new mix of galleries to show the diversity [of the fair].”
This year saw the fair open its application process, which has been invitation-only in the past, to all exhibitors from the most recent edition of 1:54 London.
For the first time, the fair will feature galleries from Angola and Ghana.
Gallery 1957, founded in 2016 in Accra, will have its first stateside showing, following an appearance at 1:54’s most recent London outing, with work by Ghanese artists Jeremiah Quarshie and Serge Attukwei Clottey. Were it not for the fair, said El Glaoui, “I think you have to travel to the continent to be able to see them.”
Nu Barreto, Desunited States of Africa (DSA), 2010. Courtesy (S)ITOR, Sitor Senghor.
London’s Tyburn Gallery will feature work by Mohau Mokadiseng, who will take on the South African pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale.
Another highlight will be a tribute to French Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui, who showed at the inaugural 1:54 New York and was killed by a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso in January 2016. “It’s quite nice to be able to honor her in this,” said El Glaoui of the planned solo presentation from Morocco’s Voice Gallery. “It’s a dear project to our hearts.”
Emo de Medeiros, a still from one of the videos of Kaleta/Kaleta, Courtesy 50 Golborne.
First-time exhibitor ROOM Gallery, of Johannesburg, South Africa, is looking forward to its 1:54 debut. “It’s a young fair, and we are also a young gallery and project space and we believe we have to support each other in those kind of platforms,” gallery director Maria Fidel Regueros told artnet News. “It was the right combination.”
“We’re excited to be back,” said El Glaoui. “Every time we’re back it’s a dream for us, you know?”
Participating Galleries:
(S)ITOR, Sitor Senghor (Paris)
50 Golborne (London)
AFRONOVA (Johannesburg, South Africa)
ARTLabAfrica (Nairobi, Kenya)
David Krut Projects (Johannesburg, South Africa, and New York)
Ed Cross Fine Art (London)
Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)
Gallery 1957 (Accra, Ghana)
Jack Bell Gallery (London)
MAGNIN-A (Paris)
MOV’ART Gallery (Luanda, Angola)
Officine dell’Immagine (Milan, Italy)
ROOM Gallery & Projects (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Rosenfeld Porcini (London)
TAFETA (London)
Taymour Grahne Gallery (New York)
Tyburn Gallery (London)
Vigo Gallery (London)
VOICE Gallery (Marrakech, Morocco)
Participating artists:
Adeniyi Olagunju (Nigeria)
Aida Muluneh (Ethiopia)
Antoine Tempé (France)
Armand Boua (Côte d’Ivoire)
Babajide Olatunji (Nigeria)
Ben Enwonwu MBE (Nigeria)
Benon Lutaaya (Uganda)
Billie Zangewa (Malawi)
Boris Nzebo (Gabon)
Cheikh Ndiaye (Senegal)
Chéri Samba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Derrick Adams (US)
Diane Victor (South Africa)
Dimitri Fagbohoun (Benin)
Emo de Medeiros (Benin)
Ernest Düku (Côte d’Ivoire)
Filipe Branquinho (Mozambique)
Houston Maludi (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Ibrahim El-Salahi (Sudan)
Ihosvanny (Angola)
J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere (Nigeria)
Jeremiah Quarshie (Ghana)
Jodi Bieber (South Africa)
Joël Andrianomearisoa (Madagascar)
JP Mika (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Kimathi Donkor (UK)
Kura Shomali (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Laila Alaoui (Morocco)
Lawrence Lemaoana (South Africa)
Lebohang Kganye (South Africa)
Mack Magagane (South Africa)
Malala Andrialavidrazana (Madagascar)
Malick Sidibé (Mali)
Marcia Kure (Nigeria)
Maurice Mbikayi (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Mbali Mdluli (South Africa)
Modupeola Fadugba (Togo)
Moffat Takadiwa (Zimbabwe)
Mohamed Melehi (Morocco)
Mohau Mokadiseng (South Africa)
Monica De Miranda (Portugal)
Ndidi Emefiele (UK)
Nontsikelelo Veleko (South Africa)
Nu Barreto (Guinea-Bissau)
Olalekan Jeyifous (Togo)
Omar Victor Diop (Senegal)
Paul Onditi (Kenya)
Romuald Hazoumè (Benin)
Senzeni Marasela (South Africa)
Serge Attukwei Clottey (Ghana)
Seydou Keïta (Mali)
Seyni Awa Camara (Senegal)
Sikhumbuzo Makandula (South Africa)
Steve Bandoma (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Temitayo Ogunbiyi (Nigeria)
Vincent Michéa (France)
William Kentridge (South Africa)
Wura-Natasha Ogunji (US)
Zak Ové (UK)