Preview: An Exclusive Glimpse into 1-54 London’s 2024 Edition with Director Touria El Glaoui

The leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and the African diaspora, 1-54 will return to London’s Somerset House from 10–13 October 2024 — this year featuring 60 exhibitors from 23 countries. Ahead of the fair’s launch, 1-54’s Founding Director Touria El Glaoui offers Something Curated an exclusive glimpse into what we can expect from the fair’s most ambitious programme to date.

“The fair has grown year after year, and this will be our biggest edition yet. We have a large number of new galleries participating, which is very exciting. Our audience and collector base are always keen to discover new artists at 1-54, and the fair is known as a platform for both discovery and showcasing established artists. This year, we have selected a number of galleries representing modern artists and wanted to place a particular focus on these artists,” El Glaoui tells.

Among the line-up of emerging names being platformed this year are artists Freya Bramble-Carter, Layo Bright, and Kofi Perry. El Glaoui expands: “These three young artists have never been exhibited at 1-54 London before, bringing innovative practices and perspectives to Somerset House, from ceramics to mixed-media work to new Afro-futuristic creation. Freya Bramble-Carter will be presented at the fair by 50 Golborne and Cynthia Corbett Gallery. The artist explores the relationship our bodies have to nature, exploring the idea of the human body and landscapes being one single entity, directly translating this belief to her work.

Born in Nigeria and currently living in New York, Layo Bright will be presented by Superposition Gallery at the fair. Layo Bright brings a new and interesting perspective on sculpture by using a variety of media and exploring relevant themes around migration, legacy and identity. Kofi Perry, showcased by DADA Gallery, is an American-Iranian painter whose Afro-futuristic artworks combine themes from hip-hop music, spirituality and the ancient world. Through his work, Perry crafts a fictional universe aimed at inspiring Black and Brown artists, offering them guidance in facing a dystopian future. The artists are already showing signs of promising careers having participated in institutional shows and won internationally-acclaimed prizes.”

Elaborating on some of the “Special Projects” we can look forward to seeing in October, El Glaoui continues: “We have a strong and large variety of “Special Projects” this year. “Special Projects” are spaces dedicated for non-commercial projects promoting the African continent and diaspora. Through this section, 1-54 aims to promote and provide opportunities to not-for-profit organisations, artist collectives, institutions, and other creative projects.

Among them, I am looking forward to seeing the site-specific installation by Theresa Weber, represented by October Gallery, who will take over the West Wing corridor of Somerset House, connecting each of the galleries exhibiting. The Fruits of Hope installation, hanging in the corridor spaces, symbolises colonial legacy, wealth, femininity, fertility, and healing through its use of indigo blue and organic, fruit-like shapes made from various fabrics and jewellery elements, while also referencing Caribbean Carnival costumes and West African traditions.

We will also have a lounge in collaboration with the Moroccan designer Sophia Kacimi, who has created the brand Zoubida. She is someone we met during 1-54 Marrakech and we are very happy to see a bit of the Marrakech connection in London. Zoubida’s work acts as a laboratory of craft experimentation, focusing on revitalising traditional handwork through collaboration with local artisans. For 1-54 London, she will explore the limitless potential of tradition and craftsmanship by inviting us into her living room to play a giant-scale chess game, made with artisans from Fes and Rabat, encouraging a re-engagement with handicraft and cultural roots.”



Feature image: Silvana Mendes, Ibejis, 2023. Courtesy the Artist and Portas Vilaseca Galeria