The 2025 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach has solidified the African continent’s standing as a powerhouse of contemporary innovation. Among the prestigious “10 Best Booths” selected by Artsy, two major African-led galleries—Southern Guild and Goodman Gallery—captured the attention of global collectors and critics alike with presentations that blended monumental scale with intimate cultural histories.
Southern Guild: A Masterclass in Materiality
Making its ambitious debut at the fair, Southern Guild’s booth (B10) was a testament to the gallery’s 20-year history of championing decolonial narratives. The presentation was anchored by two staggering works that explored the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, and communal memory.
The Living Record: Kamyar Bineshtarigh
One of the most talked-about pieces was Kamyar Bineshtarigh’s Brett’s Studio Wall (2025). This massive installation is not a mere representation; it is a physical extraction. Using a meticulous “cold glue” transfer technique, the South African-Iranian artist literally peeled layers of paint, masking tape, and studio detritus off the wall of his mentor and friend, Brett Charles Seiler.
- The Medium: A complex collage of bitumen, ink, dried sunflowers, and cigarette butts.
- The Intent: Part of his Group Show series, the work preserves the “psychic exposure” of the creative process, turning a workspace into a permanent, tactile record of artistic community.
Monumental Heritage: Zizipho Poswa
Sharing the spotlight was Zizipho Poswa’s Isacholo (2024). Standing nearly 10 feet tall, the ceramic and bronze monolith is a breathtaking homage to Xhosa culture.
- Symbolism: The title refers to the traditional beaded bangles worn by Xhosa women, which are often believed to possess healing properties.
- Market Presence: Priced at $350,000, the sculpture exemplifies the rising commercial value of high-concept African ceramics.
The Vanguard Influence
On the booth’s exterior, a new painting by Manyaku Mashilo (named to The Artsy Vanguard 2026) titled In the radiance of stars (2025) welcomed visitors. The work features eight figures against a celestial backdrop, blending Sepedi cultural rituals with Afrofuturist aesthetics. The gallery’s price points ranged from $15,000 to $350,000, reflecting a broad appeal for both emerging and blue-chip collectors.
Goodman Gallery: The Power of Collaborative Curation
In a rare move for the fair’s core sector, Goodman Gallery partnered with London-based Stephen Friedman Gallery to present a unified vision of intellectual history.
Yinka Shonibare’s “Library”
The centerpiece of the joint booth (D15) was a major iteration of Yinka Shonibare CBE’s Library series. This seminal installation featured hundreds of books individually wrapped in vibrant Dutch wax batik cloth.
- Cultural Critique: The material itself tells a story of colonial trade—fabrics manufactured in Europe, inspired by Indonesian patterns, and sold in West Africa.
- Global Knowledge: Each book spine bears the name of a figure who has shaped global thought, from scientists to activists. By gathering these names on one shelf, Shonibare challenges Eurocentric views of history and highlights the hybrid nature of modern identity.
The collaborative effort also featured a wide range of global talent, including William Kentridge, El Anatsui, and Kapwani Kiwanga, further emphasizing Goodman Gallery’s 60-year legacy as a critical voice for the Global South.
A Global Milestone
The inclusion of Southern Guild and Goodman Gallery on the “Best Booths” list is more than a win for the individual galleries; it signals a shift in the global art market. By bringing works that prioritize “material intelligence” and “decolonial imagination” to Miami, these institutions have proven that the most compelling stories in contemporary art are currently being told by voices from the African diaspora.
