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London - 1-54
The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Somerset House in London for the 11th year running. The 2023 edition will take place between 12 - 15, October 2023. (VIP & Press preview 12 October) It will feature over 60 international exhibitors – its highest number yet.
The London edition of the fair will feature 14 new galleries and 62 international exhibitor companies, including a third from Africa. Over 170 artists will be represented by new and returning exhibitors, working in a variety of media from painting and sculpting to mixed media and installations.
The fair will be held in London for the first ever time. Of the 50 international exhibitor galleries, 16 are from Africa. Newcomers include albertz Benda (New York USA), Berntson Bhattacharjee (London UK), Galleria Pggiali (Milan Florence Italy), Portas Vilaseca Galeria, (Rio de Janeiro Brazil), Selebe Yoon, (Dakar Senegal), Unit London, (London UK), and others.
Over 130 artists, both new and returning, were on display. They worked in a variety of media from painting and sculpture through to mixed media installations and installation. On display were works by established artists like Ibrahim El-Salahi and Hassan Hajjaj as well as young and emerging artists such Sola Olulode and Pedro Neves.
Amine El Gottaibi, a Moroccan artist, presents his most ambitious piece to date, "Illuminate the Light", in collaboration with MCC Gallery, Marrakech, Morocco. The artist creates twelve geometric sculptures that are based on the seeds of the pomegranate. They vary in size, shape, and colour to represent the diversity of Africa. El Gotaibi uses light to create sculptures that are a metaphor for the positive stories about Africa. This is to counter Western stereotypes of Africa as "the dark continent".