Category: AFRICA
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Now in its twelfth year, 1-54 returned to London’s Somerset House with over sixty international exhibitors, showcasing dynamic work by African and diasporic artists—cementing its place as a global leader in contemporary art.
Contemporary African Art through a Different Lens
In the past decade, contemporary African art has moved from the margins to the global stage, with London’s 1:54 art fair playing a pivotal role in that shift. From the hyperreal portraits of Nigeria’s Ayogu Kingsley to the mystical, myth-infused visions of Brazil’s Gustavo Nazareno, and the deeply personal, multidisciplinary work of Moses Quiquine, artists from Africa and the diaspora are redefining what global contemporary art looks like. Once dismissed by critics like the late Brian Sewell, Black art now commands centre stage, with even institutions like Tate Modern celebrating its brilliance. This is a new era—bold, spiritual, unapologetically complex—and, above all, undeniable.
African Fashion
V&A – London | The curators have gone to great lengths to make sure the show spans the entire continent with pieces displayed from Morocco to Ghana to South Africa, making it a truly pan African showcase.
Black Queer Voices
Brave Beauties shot from 2014 onwards consist of a series of portraits of Trans women, gender non-conforming and non-binary. Many of the women photographed are also beauty pageant contestants. They enter these pageants in order to change the mind set of those present. Those who are often happy to persecute trans-women. So, these images challenge transphobic stereotypes and stigmas.
Africa Finds its Cinematic Voice
Join the journey of African cinema as it emerges and showcases the vibrant voices and cultures of the continent today.
Palais de Lomé, Togo’s Guggenheim
Palais de Lomé covers nearly 26,000-square-foot and will house a permanent exhibition space, dedicated galleries for temporary shows, live performances, exhibitions devoted to both photography and design, alongside a bookstore as well as two restaurants. The venue will celebrate Togo’s rich and varied history, with a commitment of supporting a variety of art forms, as well as having a focus on both science and technology.
A Lagos State of Mind…
“Now let me tell you about Nigerian audiences…they talk and text and take calls and make calls during the film, they heckle the actors and if there is a song they know, they sing along.”