The highly anticipated annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is set to make a grand return to New York with its 2023 edition. Following the remarkable success of last year’s in-person fair in Harlem, the event will take place at the Malt House in the Manhattanville Factory District, located at 439 W 127th Street, from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21, 2023. The fair will kick off with VIP and Press previews from 11 am to 7 pm on Thursday, May 18, offering an exclusive glimpse into the captivating world of contemporary African art.
1-54 is recognized as the leading global event series dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, with exhibitions held annually across three continents in London, New York, and Marrakech. Striving to promote a community of diverse perspectives, including evolving interpretations of the diasporic experience, 1-54 brings together renowned international galleries specializing in contemporary African art.
This year’s New York edition boasts an impressive roster of 26 galleries from across Africa, Europe, and the United States. From Nevlunghavn to Cape Town and Los Angeles to Lagos, these galleries will showcase the works of over 80 artists from Africa and its diaspora. Notably, more than half of the participating galleries will be making their debut at the 1-54 New York fair, and over a third of them maintain physical showrooms in Africa, showcasing the growing prominence of African art in the global art scene.
Among the newcomers to the New York art scene are DADA Gallery from Lagos, Nigeria, and London, United Kingdom; KATES-FERRI PROJECTS based in New York City, United States; Duane Thomas Gallery from New York City, United States, kó from Lagos, Nigeria; LatchKey Gallery in New York City, United States; Eric Firestone Gallery, New York City, United States; SEPTIEME Gallery, Paris, France & Cotonou, Benin; THK Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa & Cologne, Germany; Galerie Atiss Dakar, Dakar, Senegal; LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Spinello Projects from Miami, United States; and Wunika Mukan Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria.
1-54 Founding Director, Touria El Glaoui, expressed her excitement about the upcoming fair, stating, “It’s an honor to be back in Harlem for what we anticipate will be our largest and best-attended New York fair to date. We strive to grow and evolve with each edition and are delighted to be collaborating with several galleries for the first time, as well as a breadth of new artists. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Manhattanville Factory District this May.”
The fair’s enduring partnerships with Christie’s, the renowned global auction house, and Artsy, the leading online platform for discovering and collecting art, continue to strengthen its presence and amplify the exposure of contemporary African art on a global scale. Through these partnerships, the fair extends beyond the physical event, offering an online experience on Artsy from May 18 to 31, 2023, where visitors can explore, connect with, and collect artworks from all participating galleries and artists.
The 2023 edition of 1-54 New York is poised to captivate art enthusiasts with an extraordinary array of galleries and artists. The participating galleries include 50 GOLBORNE from London, United Kingdom; AFIKARIS from Paris, France; Duane Thomas Gallery and Eric Firestone Gallery from New York City, United States; Fridman Gallery also from New York City, United States; Galerie Atiss Dakar from Dakar, Senegal; Loft Art Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco; Loeve&Co, Paris, France; Kristin Hjellegjerde, London, United Kingdom; Berlin & Schloss Goerne, Germany; Nevlunghavn, Norway; Palm Beach, United States; Galerie Carole Kvanevski and Galerie Cécile Fakhoury from Paris, France; Galerie Number 8 and Gallery Nosco from Brussels, Belgium; and many more
The participating artists represent a diverse range of talent and creativity, with notable names such as Ablade Glover, Adebayo Bolaji, Delali Ayivi, Ibrahim Ballo, Johanna Mirabel, Larry-Amponsah, Romeo Mivekannin, Rudy Shepherd, Sana Musasama, Turiya Magadlela, and Werllayne Nunes, among others.
As it has done since its inception in 2013, 1-54 continues to play a pivotal role in broadening global awareness of the art-historical significance of African modern and contemporary art. The fair’s commitment to showcasing the aesthetic richness of creative work emerging from the continent and its diaspora has generated immense interest and market demand, firmly establishing 1-54 as a must-visit event for art enthusiasts and collectors.
With its new location in the Manhattanville Factory District, designed by GLUCK+ as an adaptive-reuse project, 1-54 expands its floor space dedicated to new artists and galleries while bringing attention to the historic neighborhood of Harlem. As a hub for cross-cultural and diasporic exchange, Harlem provides the perfect backdrop for the fair’s celebration of African art.
Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of contemporary African art. Whether attending in person at the Malt House or exploring the virtual offerings on Artsy, the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair promises an extraordinary experience that will ignite the senses and inspire the imagination.
For more information, please visit 1-54 New York.
