1-54 Art Fair : Modern Africa on display in the heart of New York
From May 8 to 11, the international fair 1-54 celebrates African contemporary art in the heart of Manhattan. A decade of success for this event born in London, which passed through Marrakech, and has become a global showcase of African creativity.
The cultural season opens with great fanfare in New York, launched by the prestigious Met Gala. But amid this artistic frenzy, a singular event captures the attention of art lovers and collectors: the 1-54 Art Fair, dedicated to contemporary African art, settles in Manhattan for the tenth consecutive year.
After London and Marrakech, 1-54 has now established itself as a must-attend event on New York’s cultural calendar
Founded in 2013 by Touria El Glaoui, daughter of the famous Moroccan painter Hassan El Glaoui, the fair takes its name from the desire to unite the continent’s 54 countries in a shared artistic celebration. After London and Marrakech, 1-54 has now established itself as a must-attend event on New York’s cultural calendar.
The 2025 edition highlights 70 artists and 30 galleries from 17 countries. Among the most anticipated exhibitions: Tern Gallery (Bahamas) and Kub’Art (DR Congo), which offer powerful perspectives on African geopolitical realities through a striking aesthetic. Congolese artists Prisca La Furie and Rachel Malaika promise committed, searingly topical works, reflecting a wounded but creative Congo, torn between war, resource plundering, and colonial memory.
This year’s theme also gives central space to Caribbean diasporas, interweaving memories and resonating strongly in an America where Donald Trump seeks to rewrite history—particularly that of African Americans. In this tense context, 1-54 becomes an act of cultural resistance, reaffirming that art can be memory, outcry, and hope.
