The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is set to kick off in Marrakech with VIP previews on January 30-31, 2025, followed by public days on February 1-2, 2025, at the iconic La Mamounia and DADA. This highly anticipated event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience, showcasing a diverse range of contemporary African art.
Here are some of the West African galleries that will be showcasing their talents and making an impact:
1. Galerie Atiss Dakar:
Galerie Atiss Dakar founded in 1996 in Dakar, Senegal has established itself as a notable platform for West African artists under the guidance of Aissa Dione. The gallery’s mission has been to spot and nurture raw artistic talent from West Africa, often presenting these emerging artists to international audiences for the first time. This commitment extends to revitalizing the professional gallery sector in West Africa.
At the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Galerie Atiss Dakar showcases the works of three exceptional artists:
- Camara Gueye, who brings spontaneous and dynamic approach to art through large formats and bold compositions which also reflects re-balancing.
- Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu is a multidisciplinary and experimental artist that explores line, form, space, and boundaries through painting, drawing, sculpture, and many others to create multidimensional environments.
- Ousmane Bâ is a French artist pushing boundaries with his innovative Japanese artistic techniques, as well as his pastoral Fulani background. He also incorporates bodily attributes in his work.
- Ngimbi Bakambana Luve presents expressive works inspired by the vibrant La Sape culture of his native Democratic Republic of Congo. Against the backdrop of prolonged conflict, his art offers an escape, symbolizing hope for the Congolese people while serving as a bridge between the two Congos. Luve meticulously captures the anamorphic qualities of La Sape’s garments, bringing their forms and personalities to life through his work.
2. Galerie Farah Fakhri:
Under the leadership of Farah Fakhri in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Galerie Farah Fakhri’s selection is unified by its mission to foster cultural exchange through residency and educational programs. The gallery’s dynamic program highlights contemporary art across painting, sculpture, textiles, and mixed-media installations, serving as a vibrant hub for artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts—a vision exemplified in the works of:
- Taher Jaoui, who explores the dynamic interplay between structure and chaos through intricate assemblages of layered forms, vibrant colors, mathematical symbols, and expressive gestures. Drawing inspiration from rudimentary art and the expressionist movements of the 1950s and 1960s, Jaoui’s work bridges precision and spontaneity, creating visually striking compositions. Influenced by the COBRA movement, his paintings invite viewers into a vivid exploration of form, meaning, and the boundaries between order and disorder.
- Chada (AKA Charles-David Gnangoran), who explores the evolution of identity through textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and tapestries. Integrating collage, painting, and serigraphy, he transforms found objects like burlap cocoa sacks into symbols of cultural heritage. Often called an alchemist of emotions, Chada crafts narratives that are both personal and universally resonant, reflecting on identity’s fluid nature.
- Collin Sekajugo, who challenges traditional notions of identity and anthropology through vibrant painting collages and reclaimed materials. Using barkcloth, fabrics, and found objects, his bold colors and layered techniques explore social, cultural, and political identity while addressing universal themes like memory and resilience.
3. Gallery 1957:
Guided by the curatorial vision of Marwan Zakhem, Gallery 1957 operates as a contemporary art gallery with locations in Accra, Ghana, and London, UK. Its program is dedicated to facilitating international exchanges, spotlighting artistic practices that explore themes of belonging, identity, cultural exchange, and social history beyond Western narratives. Through exhibitions, installations, and performances by acclaimed artists, the gallery fosters meaningful connections between local and global audiences.
At the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, it showcases a compelling selection of works by West African artists such as Kelvin Haizel. Kelvin Haizel’s work exemplifies the curatorial theme of interrogating image-making and its cultural implications. Through a multidisciplinary approach spanning photography, painting, and archival interventions, Haizel explores the essence of images, blending abstraction, materiality, and fiction to question their creation and meaning.
