1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

Book now

08 – 10 Oct 2020

Standard £25.00, Conc £10.00, Under 12s free

10.00 - 20.00

East & West Wings

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, the leading art fair dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, returns to London for its eighth edition, 08 – 10 October 2020.

Tickets are on sale now for the public day on Saturday, with two hour time slots available to book all day, between 10.00 - 20.00. As we welcome you back, our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff - please read the essential visitor information here.

Over the past seven years 1-54 has established itself as a leading voice in the global discussion on contemporary African art. This year’s fair will see 37 international galleries from 17 countries, representing a selection of the best contemporary African artists. All exhibitors will showcase work at 1-54 Online Powered by Christie’s, with 29 exhibitors here at Somerset House.

1-54 2018, image © Brittany Buongiorno.jpg

1-54 2018, image © Brittany Buongiorno

The fair will showcase the work of more than 110 emerging and established artists from Africa and its diaspora, working in a wide variety of mediums and from a range of geographical backgrounds.

The fair is accompanied by 1-54 Forum, an extensive talks programme with international artists, curators, art historians and cultural producers. This year, 1-54 Forum is curated by Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba (Contemporary And (C&) and Contemporary And América Latina (C&AL), entitled I felt like a Black guy from New York trapped in Peru.

A black and white photo of a boy sitting on the broken remains of a wall that has been damaged and knocked down.

Leila Alaoui: Rite of Passage

1-54 partners with Somerset House to present the first major UK retrospective of the late French-Moroccan artist and activist Leila Alaoui.

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2019

Shop

Open during the fair

Somerset House Shop, East Wing

We’re delighted to be partnering with Janet’s List, a member of our Exchange community, who will be curating an edit for you to discover and buy from amazing, independent brands by black women and women of colour.

Find out more