Fair dates: 16 – 19 October 2025
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair announces list of galleries for its thirteenth edition in London
The annual event at Somerset House will see the majority of new gallery participants are from the Global South
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Somerset House for its 13th consecutive year across four days from 16 – 19 October 2025 (Press Preview 16 October). As the leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, 1-54 London 2025 will welcome more than 50 international exhibitors, based across 13 countries.
A significant number of the exhibitors are based on the African continent. 14 galleries will make their 1- 54 London debut including David Hill Gallery (London, UK), FILAFRIQUES (Geneva, Switzerland), Gallery Brulhart (Geneva, Switzerland), Galerie Hugues Charbonneau (Montreal, Canada), NATHAN CHICHE (Metz, France), Gallery Misr (Cairo, Egypt), KUB’ART GALLERY (Kinshasa, DRC + Montreal, Canada), Larkin Durey (London, UK), O’DA Art (Lagos, Nigeria), OH Gallery (Dakar, Senegal), Project Loop (London, UK), Rele Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria / London, UK / Los Angeles, USA), The 1897 Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria), TERN Gallery (Nassau, Bahamas) and TINTERA (Cairo, Egypt). The majority of these new participants are from the Global South.
Both new and returning exhibitors will present over 100 artists* working across an array of mediums from painting, photography and sculpture, performance to mixed media, textile and ceramics. Renowned artists such as Hassan Hajjaj, Ibrahim El Salehi, Lakwena Maciver and Seydou Keita will be exhibited alongside young and emerging talents including Joël Bigaignon, Zenaéca Singh, Khadija El Abyad and Afeez Onakoya (*artist list subject to change).
This edition will see a significant presence from Nigeria with galleries including Affinity, Ed Cross, O’DA Art, SOTO, and The 1897 Gallery. Participating artists include Samuel Nnorom, Austin Uzor, and Ayoola Gbolahan. South Africa also sees strong representation, with galleries including
Afronova Gallery, Eclectica Contemporary, FILAFRIQUES, Guns & Rain, Kalashnikovv, presenting artists such as Alice Mann, Reggie Khumalo, Zana Masombuka, and Boemo Diale.
Another highlight of this year’s exhibition will be the showcase of modern artists, with Tristan Hoare Gallery showing Malick Sidibé, Seydou Keïta and Gora M’Bengue, and Loeve&Co putting works by Roland Dorcély on view.
“We’re thrilled to return to Somerset House for our 13th edition,” says Founding Director Touria El Glaoui. “This year, we’re proud to showcase an exceptional selection of galleries spanning five continents, with a strong representation from the African continent itself – notably from Nigeria and South Africa. We’re also excited to welcome a significant portion of new galleries to the London edition.”
Special Projects for this upcoming 1-54 London edition will include:
● Art Comes First
● Everyday Lusaka Gallery
● Nando’s partnership with Spier Arts Trust
● Picha Art Centre
● Seed Archives
More Special Projects to be announced soon.
Alongside 1-54 London, Somerset House will open the first major solo exhibition by pioneering Black British photographer Jennie Baptiste, who has been using her lens to document the dynamic spirit of youth culture, music, fashion, and urban life within the Black British diaspora in London since the 1990s. This powerful photographic celebration will be open to all 1-54 London ticket holders and continue until 4 January 2026.
ATLANTIC ARTHOUSE will curate the Caribbean Spotlight at 1-54 London, building on the successful Crossfigurations theme presented at the New York iteration. This curated group show will continue to explore figurative representations across Caribbean cultures. Through illustrations of identity, tradition, history, migration and street culture, the artists will share perspectives on humanity that invite viewers to consider similarities rather than differences between the Caribbean, the African Diaspora and the wider world.
Now in its sixth consecutive year, 1-54’s continued partnership with Christie’s signals the fair’s strong and dynamic relationship with the global auction house. The collaboration also demonstrates Christie’s commitment to showcasing contemporary African art to its global client base and enhancing exposure for the fair internationally.
1-54 is also pleased to continue its creative partnership with INFINIMENT COTY PARIS, a high-end fragrance collection by Coty Inc., one of the world’s largest beauty companies. Coty Inc. has been granted a patent in the Netherlands for Artcycling, a concept developed by INFINIMENT COTY PARIS that reimagines luxury fragrance packaging as raw material for artistic creation. From Waste to Work of Art: a bold step in turning fragrance packaging into a creative legacy.
As of today, 23 talented artists — Saïdou Dicko, Ousmane Niang, Thandiwe Muriu, Deborah Segun, Mous Lamrabat, Younes Khourassani, Francisco Vidal, Evans Mbugua, Isabelle D., Willys Kezi Niangi, Nana Yaw Oduro, Victor Fidelis, Derrick Ofosu Boateng, Emo De Medeiros, Zana Masombuka, Zineb Mezzour, Valérie Ohana, Anaëlle Myriam Chaaib, Tiffanie Delune, Turiya Magadlela, Slimen Elkamel, Theda Sandiford, and Ashanté Kindle — selected by Sue Nabi and Nicolas Vu, have been invited to interpret a fragrance freely — translating the invisible nature of scent into a tangible artistic form. There are objects designed to disappear. And there are those imagined to endure. Created by co-founder Nicolas Vu, the INFINIMENT COTY PARIS bottle is a sculptural tribute to asymmetry: a perfectly flat face on one side, bold facets on the other. Built to stack, to assemble, to transform — it is more than packaging. It is a medium of expression. Discover more on infinimentcoty.com and Instagram.
Lastly, 1-54 are happy to announce their new Lead Partner, Afreximbank, the African Export-Import Bank, a pan-African multilateral financial institution that promotes and finances African trade. Through its Art Programme, Afreximbank champions contemporary African art and cultural initiatives across the continent.
List of Participating Galleries (*artist list subject to change)
• 193 Gallery (Paris / Venice / St Tropez, France / Italy) presenting works from Hassan Hajjaj, Sesse Elangwe, Thandiwe Muriu, Jean Marc Hunt, Roxane Mbanga and Hyacinthe Ouattara
• 50 Golborne x Project Loop (London, UK) presenting a duo show of Theresa Weber and Martin Jakaila
• Affinity Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria) with a selection of works from Buqaqawuli Nobakada, Vanessa Endeley and Samuel Nnorom
• AFIKARIS (Paris, France) with a presentation of five artists from the diaspora, Fabiana Ex-Souza, Beya Gile Gacha, Jean David Nkot, Ozioma Onuzulike and Hervé Yamguen
• Afronova Gallery x David Hill Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa / London, UK) presenting the works of Alice Mann
• AKKA Project (Venice, Italy) presenting the works of Pamela Enyonu, Cyrus Kabiru and Beau Disundi Nzazi
• albertz benda (New York / Los Angeles, USA) exhibiting the works of Rugiyatou Jallow, Larissa de Souza and Patrick Quarm
• artHARARE (Cape Town, South Africa) presenting the works of three Zimbabwean artists: Tafadzwa Gwetai, Kombo Chapfika and Whitney Bulman
• Circle Art Gallery (Nairobi, Kenya) with a dual presentation of Tiemar Tegene and Donald Wasswa
• Eclectica Contemporary (Cape Town, South Africa) with a booth showcasing the works of Johannesburg-based artists, Thando Phenyane and Justin Dingwall
• Ed Cross (London, UK) presenting works from Ugonna Hosten and Professor Jerry Buhari
• FILAFRIQUES (Geneva, Switzerland) exhibiting the works from Gavin Goodman and Reggie Khumalo
• First Floor Gallery Harare (Harare, Zimbabwe) presenting a solo presentation of Grace Nyahangare
• Galerie Hugues Charbonneau (Montreal, Canada) debuting at 1-54 with a booth dedicated to Congolese visual artist Moridja Kitenge Banza
• NATHAN CHICHE (Metz, France) presenting Maria Adjovi, David Mbuyi & Mahi Binebine
• Galleria Anna Marra (Rome, Italy) with a selection of works by Khadija Jayi, Turiya Magadlela and Dana Zvulun
• Gallery 1957 (London / Accra, UK / Ghana) presenting a selection of works from renowned and emerging Ghanaian artists including Kwaku Yaro, Rita Maweuna Benissan, Arthur Timothy, Godfried Donkor and Kwesi Botchway
• Gallery Brulhart (Geneva, Switzerland) showcasing pieces from Senegalese artist Taiye Idahor, Kemboury Bessane and Beninese artist Aïsso
• Gallery Misr (Cairo, Egypt) presenting for the first-time with artists Aliaa Elgready, Hend Adnan, Serwan Baran and Souad Abdelrassoul
• gallery rosenfeld (London, UK) with a solo both featuring Nigerian artist Ndidi Emefiele
• Gillian Jason Gallery (London, UK) returning with a group booth of photography, painting and sculpture featuring Violeta Sofia, Cinthia Sifa Malunga, Ofunne Azinge and Sadie Clayton
• Guns & Rain (Johannesburg, South Africa) with a four-pronged presentation featuring Tuli Mekondjo, Princia Matungulu, Bev Butkow and Zenaéca Singh
• Kalashnikovv Gallery (Johannesburg / Cape Town, South Africa) presenting South African artists Theresa-Anne Mackintosh, Boemo Diale and Mbali Tshabalala
• KUB’ART GALLERY (Kinshasa / Montreal, DRC / Canada) marking their first ever showcase at 1-54 with a presentation featuring Anastasie Langu, Prisca Munkenie Monnier Lafurie and Marcus Troy
• Larkin Durey (London, UK) with a selection of works by Aboudia, Lavar Munroe, and Marc Padeu
• LIS10 Gallery Hong Kong (Hong Kong / Paris, Hong Kong / France) showcasing Ivorian photographer Laetitia Ky, Mauritian painter Joël Bigaignon and Esther Mahlangu
• Loeve&Co (Paris, France) presenting a booth featuring Roland Dorcély, Alex Burke and Marcel Gotène
• Loft Art Gallery (Casablanca / Marrakech, Morocco) with an all-Moroccan lineup of artists including Amina Agueznay, Amina Rezki, Khadija El Abyad and Nassim Azarzar
• Luce Gallery (Turin, Italy) presenting a booth containing the works Delphine Desane, Laurena Finéus and Hugo McCloud
• MAĀT Gallery (Paris, France) with a solo booth dedicated to French artist Austin Uzor
• Mindy Solomon Gallery (Miami, USA) showcasing a group presentation featuring Malaika Temba, Amani Lewis, Murjoni Merriweather and Jack Kabangu
• Nil Gallery (Paris, France) exhibiting a group presentation of Fathi Hassan, Girma Berta & Bouchra Boudoua
• O’DA Art (Lagos, Nigeria) making their 1-54 London debut with a presentation of Paul Majek, Simon Ojeaga and Afeez Onakoya
• October Gallery (London, UK) exhibiting a group presentation of Zana Masombuka, LR Vandy, Xanthe Somers, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Romuald Hazoumé and Alexis Peskine
• OH Gallery (Dakar, Senegal) exhibiting a group presentation of Oumar Ball, Aliou Diack, Viyé Diba, Théodore Diouf, Soly Cissé, Méné & Ibrahima Thiam
• Rele Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria / London, UK / Los Angeles, USA) presenting Ayobami Ogunbe and Kaleab Abate
• SOTO Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria) exhibiting Nigerian artists Ifeoluwa Kalejaiye, Lawrence Meju and Chukwumereogo Okeke
• TERN Gallery (Nassau, Bahamas) presenting Leasho Johnson
• The 1897 Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria) marking their first-time at 1-54 with a showcase of established painter, Ayoola Gbolahan and emerging talents Rosin Jones and Yanma Fofana
• THK Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa) presenting works from artists Driaan Claassen and Natnael Ashebir
• TINTERA (Cairo, Egypt) showcasing photographic works from artists Hashim Nasr and Ibrahim Ahmed
• Tristan Hoare Gallery (London, UK) with a presentation of works from renowned Malian photographers Seydou Keïta and Malick Sidibé as well as acclaimed Senegalese painter Gora M’Bengue
• Vigo Gallery (London, UK) presenting the works of two previous courtyard commissioned artists Lakwena Maciver and Ibrahim El-Salahi, alongside acclaimed artist Salah Elmur
