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1-54 returned this fall to London’s Somerset House for the twelfth consecutive year and in the process presented dazzling work from some of the continent’s most exciting visual artists.  As perhaps the world’s leading international contemporary African art fair dedicated to showcasing the work from both Africa and the African diaspora, the art fair continues to grow.  This fall 1-54 2024 hosted over sixty international exhibitors, representing twenty-three countries.  It was simply one of the most brilliant shows in London.

Of the over sixty international exhibitors displaying this year, over a third of them were from the African continent, with twenty-three making their UK debut.  With some of the newcomers this year including ADA contemporary art gallery (Accra, Ghana) Christophe Person (Paris, France) Post Gallery (Addis Abada, Ethiopia) SOTO Gallery (Lago, Nigeria) and Pearl Lam Galleries (Hong Kong, China).  With so much art on display, its logistically impossible to cover everything but below are images from some of my personal favourites:Adede Odedina, Rugiyatou Jallow, Damilola Onosowobo, Ziyad El Mansouri and Omar Ka.

Years ago, the late British art critic Brian Sewell dismissed both the art produced by contemporary African artists as well as that produced by women.  In Sewell’s eyes contemporary art was the domain of white western males and there was no room for anyone else.  Seeing the packed gallery rooms, where thousands attended over the course of four days, I feel that the African artists themselves have in many ways had the final laugh since contemporary African art is now among the most celebrated art in the world.

X: @BeverlyAAndrews

Instagram: @beverlyaandrews