This week, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair makes its highly anticipated return to New York City with a new downtown address and its most globally expansive edition yet. From May 9–11, 2025, the fair will take over Halo at 28 Liberty Street in the Financial District, welcoming over 30 galleries and more than 70 artists representing the vast and dynamic landscape of Africa and its global diasporas.
Held annually in London, New York, and Marrakech, 1-54 is the first and only international art fair dedicated exclusively to contemporary African art. As the fair enters its second decade, this year’s New York edition underscores its commitment to diversity, discovery, and diasporic dialogue, spanning artists and exhibitors from 17 countries across five continents.
“We’re eager to make our return to New York as we continue to grow our annual edition,” said Touria El Glaoui, Founding Director of 1-54. “It’s been wonderful to see the positive response from our U.S. audience over the last decade, as well as a shared passion for expanding visibility for contemporary African art. We’re excited for visitors to see the incredible artwork and programming from this year’s gallerists and fair partners.”
This year’s fair sees 15 first-time participants and 18 exhibitors showing in New York for the first time. Among the notable debuts are TERN Gallery, which becomes the first exhibitor from The Bahamas in 1-54’s history, and KUB’ART Gallery, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks another first for the fair, affirming its ongoing mission to support galleries both emerging and established across Africa.
TRUE Africa will be closely following space UN, a newly founded arts and culture venue in Tokyo dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between Japan and Africa. Spearheaded by Edna Dumas, the space is making a striking entrance with a mission rooted in passion for contemporary African art.
Galerie Carole Kvasnevski, with bases in both Paris and New York, presents a compelling mix of emerging and established artists including Zanele Muholi, Angèle Etoundi Essamba, and rising talents Lindokuhle Khumalo and Justin Ebanda. The gallery’s strong focus on socially and environmentally conscious work offers timely resonance.
Another highlight comes from Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière, which will present new work by legendary Ghanaian photographer James Barnor, now 95. A pioneer of color photography in West Africa, Barnor’s images span six decades, chronicling Ghana’s road to independence, life in London’s African diaspora, and postcolonial transitions with unmatched intimacy and joy. His rediscovery, thanks in part to early curatorial efforts by Nana Oforiatta Ayim, has placed him at the heart of the global photography canon.
Beyond the booths, 1-54 New York 2025 boasts a dynamic series of Special Projects that deepen the fair’s engagement with cultural memory and contemporary discourse. Art Comes First (ACF) presents “Textile Language”, an immersive installation exploring the historical and political weight of African textiles—from the cotton of Meroë to the indigo dyes of Mali, and even a Black-owned cotton farm in Alabama operating since 1877. Through fabric and fashion, ACF unspools the threads of identity, resistance, and heritage—anchored by the enduring symbolism of the Afro comb.
FORGOTTEN LANDS, a collective championing Caribbean contemporary art, brings an Afro-Caribbean Resource Library to the fair. This literary sanctuary within the lounge space will offer visitors a curated selection of poetry, fiction, political thought, and art criticism that reflects the Caribbean’s deep ties to Africa and the global Black experience. It invites visitors to slow down, reflect, and engage with diaspora through the lens of language.
With each edition, 1-54 reaffirms that contemporary African art is not a monolith—but a multitude of perspectives, practices, and place-based identities. This year’s New York gathering reflects a maturing ecosystem, one that stretches from Lagos to Tokyo, Johannesburg to Geneva, and Nassau to Kinshasa. As the fair takes up residence in Lower Manhattan, it also symbolizes a broader shift: the center of gravity in the art world is changing, and 1-54 is helping lead that movement with integrity and imagination.
1-54 New York 2025 opens to the public from May 9–11. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a curious visitor, or a lover of global culture, this year’s fair promises new discoveries and powerful encounters.