Art Basel is back for its Paris edition this year, running from October 18 to 20 . This year’s Paris edition will feature 195 galleries from 42 countries. There is a steady representation of African art and artists, with African artists and galleries well represented. Some of the galleries include Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Goodman Gallery, and Mariane Ibrahim Gallery. Artists such as Otobong Nkanga, Julie Mehretu, Amoako Boafo, and Jadé Fadojutimi will also be presented by their respective galleries. Here are the top booths to check out as an African art collector:
Work: 363 x 360 cm (142.9 x 141.7 in.) Image courtesy of Goodman Gallery.
Goodman Gallery (Stand 19): Celebrating Diverse African Art Forms
Goodman Gallery will present a strong selection of modern and contemporary African artists, featuring abstract sculptural installations and tapestries from El Anatsui, Leonardo Drew, and Kapwani Kiwanga. They will also present a range of photo collages, paintings, and sculptures by William Kentridge and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Additionally, there will be a showcase of contemporary and abstract works from Atta Kwami, Ghada Amer, Mishek Masamvu, and Cassi Namoda. Works by the contemporary griot artist Pélagie Gbaguidi will also be available. These artists continue to leave a strong imprint on African art forms and research, inspiring many young artists who follow in their footsteps. This is definitely one of the best booths to check out.
Click here to preview Goodman Gallery’s Art Basel Paris catalogue.
Gagosian Gallery (Booth B33): Contemporary Portraiture, Abstraction, and Representational Art
Gagosian Gallery will present works from Amoako Boafo (b. 1984; Accra, Ghana) and Jadé Fadojutimi (b. 1993; England-Nigeria), alongside other global artists. Amoako Boafo is a renowned portrait artist who has continued to create striking portraits that celebrate the soul of Black people. Using his unique finger-painting techniques, Boafo transforms his painting sessions into intimate processes to capture and portray his subjects.
(250 × 175 cm). Image courtesy of Gagosian Gallery
Jadé Fadojutimi, on the other hand, creates large abstract modern representational art inspired by Japanese culture. After doing a residency in Kyoto, Japan became a key anchor in her exploration. Her artworks reflect a journey of self-discovery, orchestrating line movement, space, and color to represent fluid emotion and the human experience as they move toward self-knowledge.
View the catalogue here
White Cube Saloon (Booth B34): Julie Mehretu
Julie Mehretu (b. Ethiopia, 1970) will be presenting Insile (2013) this year. The artwork belongs to a body of work created during the wake of the Arab Spring. This large-scale piece is inspired by one of Saddam Hussein’s complex governmental properties, Believer’s Palace. The palace, once a significant building for Iraqis, now stands desolate with a ruined façade following the US invasion of Iraq in 2010. Insile merges creation and erasure, transforming spaces into symbols of political conflict.
See full list here
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery (Booth J13): Duality and Transcendent Fluidity
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery will present a selection of modern and contemporary works from Salah Elmur (b. 1966; Khartoum, Sudan), Ian Mwesiga (b. 1988; Kampala, Uganda), Zohra Opoku (b. 1976, Germany/Ghana), and Amoako Boafo (b. 1984; Accra, Ghana). The works invite viewers to explore spaces where identity, memory, and the subconscious merge, reflecting the shift from dusk to dawn.
Click here to view Mariane Ibrahim Gallery’s catalogue.
Lisson Gallery: Hand-Braided Sculpture by Otobong Nkanga (b. 1974; Nigeria)
Lisson Gallery will present Otobong Nkanga‘s hand-braided rope sculpture, Silent Anchor (2024), part of her ongoing series. The sculptures are often suspended or laid across the floor, alluding to “material emotionality,” which correlates to traditional healing methods in various parts of West and East Africa. By mixing materials such as ceramic, glass forms, and glass-filled inky blue chamomile, her sculptures blend contemporary and conceptual art forms, bringing new life to their meanings. Coinciding with Art Basel is Otobong Nkanga: Cadence, a sculptural commission opening at the Museum of Modern Art, Donald and Catherine Marron Family Atrium.
Woven textile (yarns: viscose, mohair, polyester, organic cotton, linen, acryl), inkjet prints on 10 laser-cut forex plates, four parts. Installation view 11th Gwangju Biennial, Gwangju, 2016. Image courtesy of Lisson Gallery
Galerie Cécile Fakhoury: Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien
Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien (b. 1970; Ivory Coast) will present a selection of textiles and installations. As a creator of links, her work blends natural and industrial elements, evoking maps, poems, totems, and relics. Her works feature unorthodox materials such as horsehair. This focus on Marie-Claire highlights her contribution to African arts, as her works transform into ancient modes of communication, spirituality, and community through African cultural symbolism and contemporary art.
Art Basel VIP preview: 16th to 17th.
Click here to check out participating galleries and artists
