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 artistsContinue reading “1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Moves to Lower Manhattan”
Author Archives: Claude Grunitzky
Alioune Diagne Bridges Dakar and NYC, Dreams and Identity
As the curtains draw to a close on Alioune Diagne’s first U.S. solo exhibition at Templon New York on May 1st, the impact of this moment continues to resonate. Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed Senegalese Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, Diagne’s New York debut marks a powerful expansion of his artisticContinue reading “Alioune Diagne Bridges Dakar and NYC, Dreams and Identity”
This Exhibition is a Spiritual and Artistic Exploration of Togo
On view until April 26, 2025, Animismes Universels is the latest exhibition at the Montresso Art Foundation, nestled just outside Marrakech, Morocco. The show opened during the Marrakech edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, grounding itself in a timely and growing conversation about spirituality, memory, and artistic expression across the African continent. [responsiveContinue reading “This Exhibition is a Spiritual and Artistic Exploration of Togo”
How the Artist Rita Mawuena Benissan Became a Custodian of Ghana’s Memory
Curated by Ekow Eshun, Ghanaian-American artist Rita Mawuena Benissan’s 2023 exhibition In the World not of the World at Gallery 1957 in Accra served as a groundbreaking exploration of Ghanaian identity and cultural heritage, melding traditional artistry with contemporary techniques. The exhibition was notable for its reinterpretation of customary Ghanaian symbols, particularly the royal umbrella,Continue reading “How the Artist Rita Mawuena Benissan Became a Custodian of Ghana’s Memory”
How Did Synanon Evolve From California’s Utopia to a Cult?
A new documentary premiered on Paramount+ on December 12th. It chronicles Cassidy Arkin’s journey to discover the truth about Synanon, the experimental California community that turned into a full-blown cult. We interviewed Arkin and her mother Sandra Rogers-Hare about their experience living in Synanon, where interactions were regulated by the Game. [responsive id=’49912′ name=’2023/12/Salmagundi-Cass-Blanche.jpg’] WhyContinue reading “How Did Synanon Evolve From California’s Utopia to a Cult?”
We Love This New Art Fair in Copenhagen
We often cover emerging art fairs in this publication, and we’ve seen quite a few changes over the past few years, with the pandemic upending the calendar for many art fairs. Some disappeared, and others have found a way to keep going. We always look for the fairs that feature up-and-coming artists from Africa andContinue reading “We Love This New Art Fair in Copenhagen”
Which Conversation Was the Highlight of the Inaugural GITEX Africa Conference?
Six years ago, I wrote this article about TechCabal, because I saw it as a promising new publication that could bring a fresh perspective to Africa’s coverage of the digital industries. The publication, which was launched just two years before TRUE Africa, is now ten years old, and TechCabal’s journalists have “covered the fundraises, exits,Continue reading “Which Conversation Was the Highlight of the Inaugural GITEX Africa Conference?”
Why Is Serena Williams Investing in Black Engineers?
Driven by the promise of equal opportunity that came out of the civil rights movement and continued with affirmative action policies, many colleges and universities in America have made concerted efforts to enroll more Black students. Some of those Black students chose to pursue an education in engineering and STEM, but African American representation inContinue reading “Why Is Serena Williams Investing in Black Engineers?”
Why These Songs From Mali Are Just Right For Our Pandemic Times
The Malian singer Rokia Koné is known as the Rose of Bamako. In a country known for world class instrumentation and great female vocalists, mainly through recordings and performances from luminaries such as Oumou Sangaré and Fatoumata Diawara, Koné has emerged as one of the most innovative, experimental African singers on the international music scene.Continue reading “Why These Songs From Mali Are Just Right For Our Pandemic Times”