1-54 New York

Has its names implies, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is a fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa. It runs three annual shows: 1-54 London, 1-54 Marrakech and 1-54 New York. The name is inspired by the fact that 54 diverse countries make up one great continent. 1-54 New York was established in 2015 to accommodate the rising interest in African art. Approximately 10,000 visitors attend this show that takes place at the same time as Frieze New York in May. With 24 galleries from Africa, Europe and the USA displaying paintings, collages, photography and sculpture, there is a diverse range of outstanding work to view and purchase at 1-54 New York. Pieces start at affordable prices to ensure the art is accessible to a wide audience.

Lee Cavaliere

Touria El Glaoui shares her views!

Founding Director

1-54 New York 2024

Location

Harlem Parish
258 W 118th St
New York, NY 10026
United States

Dates

May 2024

Entrance Fee

Adults: $25
Concession Ticket: $15

Mediums

Painting
Sculpture
Drawing

Art Periods

Contemporary

Contact

info@1-54.com
Website

Ceramic Brussels

Insights 1-54 New York

Lee Cavaliere

Touria El Glaoui

Founding Director

What would you say is the DNA of 1-54 New York?

We established the first iteration of 1-54 New York in 2015 at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. Similar to London, the fair coincided with Frieze New York. We moved locations to Industria in the West Village in 2019, connecting to a new audience closer to the New York art centre of Chelsea and neighbouring West Village. The move also allowed us to organise a larger edition, showing more galleries than previous New York fairs. For this year’s edition, taking place from 19 to 22 May 2022, we will be hosting the fair in a unique event space in Harlem. I think this will be a great opportunity to engage with Harlem’s African American, African Diaspora, and African community. It made sense to move to a neighbourhood rich in history and culture, especially one that was so significant in the proliferation of artistic work in the American Black community.

What type of galleries are chosen to exhibit, and why?

1-54 works with a wide variety of galleries, so this really depends on who applies to our fair. Sometimes we work with emerging galleries, and other times we work with more established ones. However, we want to be a platform enabling younger and upcoming galleries from the continent and around the world to access the international art scene. To recall, our mission is to improve the representation of contemporary African Art in worldwide exhibitions. For this year’s edition, we would like to engage with galleries based in the neighbourhood, focusing on a programme that fosters a sense of community and connects with local partners.

What is the price range of pieces? Who is the average buyer?

The prices of pieces can range anywhere from $4,000 to upwards of $65,000. We’ve found that works valued in the $1,000 to $6,500 bracket in our first edition in London were valued in the $26,000 bracket back in 2019. Furthermore, several artists have seen an increase between 70-80%, such as Malian artists Aboulaye Konaté and Amadou Sanago and British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové. There is certainly a rising interest in contemporary art from Africa and its diasporas. In the past ten years, scores of commercial galleries are opening new outposts on both the African continent and Europe, new major museums are opening on the African continent, major international galleries are collaborating with artists from the continent, and leading auctions houses are establishing specialised departments in contemporary African art. Contemporary African art is thriving more than ever. Today, our collector base is very broad and diversified, from young buyers who are just starting off their collections to more established collectors.

“our mission is to improve the representation of contemporary African Art in worldwide exhibitions.”

VOLTA Basel

© 1-54

Who is the typical attendee of 1-54 New York?

1-54 has consistently been the space for globally spread, international individuals to socialise and exchange.The fair is attended by collectors, students, researchers, cultural and artistic practitioners, art enthusiasts, and even families. The main underlying theme that joins all our attendees is that they all have an interest in artistic practices from Africa and its diaspora.

What strategy – physical as digital – will you adopt in the short to medium term?

Our strategy is to focus on our physical fairs, which are the most anticipated social events in the yearly calendar and allow like-minded people to meet. We cannot wait to go back to the continent with 1-54 Marrakech, especially after the fair has been cancelled for two years in a row. We very much look forward to reuniting with the vibrant artistic community there. However, we will continue to strengthen and expand our presence online to be able to reach wider audiences. This year we are pursuing our partnership with Artsy, allowing collectors to browse works online for each edition. Furthermore, we are very active on our social media, producing studio visits with unique artists, interviews with key players in the industry, and insightful market research.
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we recently rebranded the design of our logo, in collaboration with design studio, TM, as we wanted to emphasise togetherness, unity, and the pride that we have for our continent. 1-54 takes its name from the 54 countries that make up the continent, and we feel that our new logo not only draws attention to our role as a unifier of many things — people, countries, cultures, and art forms — but reflects our ongoing mission to promote contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.

What are two other art fairs you would suggest?

I would suggest Art Dubai and Art X Lagos.

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• Proyectos Monclava: Mexico
@_monclova 
• Almine Rech: London, Paris, NYC, Shanghai, Brussels, Monaco, Venice, Gstaad
@alminerech 
• Vadehra Art Gallery: New Delhi
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📣 Upcoming ´1 minute in the booth’ at @artbasel Hong Kong 2024
• Proyectos Monclava: Mexico
@_monclova
• Almine Rech: London, Paris, NYC, Shanghai, Brussels, Monaco, Venice, Gstaad
@alminerech
• Vadehra Art Gallery: New Delhi
@vadehraartgallery
• Galerie Greta Meert: Brussels
@galeriegretameert
• Galleria d’Arte Maggiore: Bologna, Venice, Paris
@maggioregam
• C L E A R I N G: Los Angeles, New York, Brussels
@clearing_ny_bxl_la

#artbasel #artbaselhongkong #artfair #artcollector #artdealer #modernart #contemporaryart
...

104 7
The amazing Encounters sector at @artbasel 2024! 17 large-scale installations integrated within the fair and well-curated by @alexieglass.

My two favorite were:
• ‘Once Upon a Time’ by Li Wei, presented by @tangcontemporaryart
• ‘Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy’ created by @mak2protein for the fair and presented by @desarthegallery.
It’s was so much fun to navigate throw these amazing artworks!
Arty outfit by @elisechalmin 🙏 

#artbasel #artbaselhongkong #mak2 #liwei #largescaleart #artinstallation #artlover #contemporaryart

The amazing Encounters sector at @artbasel 2024! 17 large-scale installations integrated within the fair and well-curated by @alexieglass.

My two favorite were:
• ‘Once Upon a Time’ by Li Wei, presented by @tangcontemporaryart
• ‘Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy’ created by @mak2protein for the fair and presented by @desarthegallery.
It’s was so much fun to navigate throw these amazing artworks!
Arty outfit by @elisechalmin 🙏

#artbasel #artbaselhongkong #mak2 #liwei #largescaleart #artinstallation #artlover #contemporaryart
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@artbasel Hong Kong 2024! A very exciting edition full of discoveries with 243 galleries from around the world.

My three highlights are: 
• @ryanjgander at @galeriemennour 
• @artistjinju at @arariogallery_official 
• @mrdoodle at @pearllamgalleries 

👗Arty outfit by @elisechalmin

#artbasel #artbaselhongkong #hongkong #contemporaryart #artlover #mrdoodle #artcollector

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My three highlights are:
• @ryanjgander at @galeriemennour
• @artistjinju at @arariogallery_official
• @mrdoodle at @pearllamgalleries

👗Arty outfit by @elisechalmin

#artbasel #artbaselhongkong #hongkong #contemporaryart #artlover #mrdoodle #artcollector
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#drawingnow #artlover #drawing #contemporarydrawing #contemporaryart #artfair

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@galerieericmouchet at @drawingnowartfair 2024. Léo Marin presents a work by Samuel Tranquier.
@curator.on.the.run 

#samueltranquier #drawingnow #contemporarydrawing #contemporaryart #ericmouchet

@galerieericmouchet at @drawingnowartfair 2024. Léo Marin presents a work by Samuel Tranquier.
@curator.on.the.run

#samueltranquier #drawingnow #contemporarydrawing #contemporaryart #ericmouchet
...

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@ayyamgallery at @artdubai 2024. @mayyasamm presents a striking blue work by @rulahalawani.

#artdubai #photography #contemporaryart #artoftheday

@ayyamgallery at @artdubai 2024. @mayyasamm presents a striking blue work by @rulahalawani.

#artdubai #photography #contemporaryart #artoftheday
...

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📣Upcoming ´1 minute in the booth’ at @drawingnowartfair 2024
• Galerie Éric Mouchet: Paris, Forest Brussels
@galerieericmouchet 
• Galerie Ariane C-Y: Paris
@galeriearianecy 
• Galerie C: Neuchâtel, Paris
@galerie_c 
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• Galerie Éric Mouchet: Paris, Forest Brussels
@galerieericmouchet
• Galerie Ariane C-Y: Paris
@galeriearianecy
• Galerie C: Neuchâtel, Paris
@galerie_c
• Galerie Younique: Lima, Paris
@galerieyounique

#drawingnow #contemporarydrawing #artlover #artenthusiast #contemporaryart
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114 6
@drawingnowartfair 2024 was my hunting ground today to find the perfect drawing for my home. Mission accomplished with a stunning floral composition by @camillechastang presented in @doublevgallery’s dreamlike booth.
Drawing Now, March 21-24, 2024 at the @carreaudutemple, Paris.

The two other works are:
• @emilferris at @galerie.martel 
• @chiharushiota at @galerietemplon 
Pink wall at @galerie_suzanne_tarasieve’s booth

Thanks @clmdmn for filming 🙏 

#drawingnow #contemporarydrawing #contemporaryart #drawing #carreaudutemple #paris

@drawingnowartfair 2024 was my hunting ground today to find the perfect drawing for my home. Mission accomplished with a stunning floral composition by @camillechastang presented in @doublevgallery’s dreamlike booth.
Drawing Now, March 21-24, 2024 at the @carreaudutemple, Paris.

The two other works are:
• @emilferris at @galerie.martel
• @chiharushiota at @galerietemplon
Pink wall at @galerie_suzanne_tarasieve’s booth

Thanks @clmdmn for filming 🙏

#drawingnow #contemporarydrawing #contemporaryart #drawing #carreaudutemple #paris
...

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In conversation with @manuelarayo, founder of @miraartfair which will take place next September in Paris. This fair, dedicated exclusively to Latin American artists, aims to fill a gap in the European art scene, offering a platform for the rich diversity and cultural vibrancy of Latin America. With a focus on quality over quantity, MIRA promises an intimate and exclusive experience, showcasing 20 high-caliber galleries and fostering deep, meaningful connections among artists, collectors, and the public.
Thank you Manuela for your smile and good energy!

#miraartfair #latinamericanart #latinamerica #colombianart #mexicanart #contemporaryart #parisart #artfair

In conversation with @manuelarayo, founder of @miraartfair which will take place next September in Paris. This fair, dedicated exclusively to Latin American artists, aims to fill a gap in the European art scene, offering a platform for the rich diversity and cultural vibrancy of Latin America. With a focus on quality over quantity, MIRA promises an intimate and exclusive experience, showcasing 20 high-caliber galleries and fostering deep, meaningful connections among artists, collectors, and the public.
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#miraartfair #latinamericanart #latinamerica #colombianart #mexicanart #contemporaryart #parisart #artfair
...

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@robilantvoenagallery at @tefaf Maastricht 2024. @stanislas.mf presents an incredible Magdalene by Artemisia Gentileschi.

#artemisiagentileschi #antiquepainting #tefaf #oldmasterpainting #femaleartist #renaissanceart #renaissance

@robilantvoenagallery at @tefaf Maastricht 2024. @stanislas.mf presents an incredible Magdalene by Artemisia Gentileschi.

#artemisiagentileschi #antiquepainting #tefaf #oldmasterpainting #femaleartist #renaissanceart #renaissance
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Discover my full coverage of @tefaf Maastricht 2024, now on artfairmag.com!

#tefaf #tefafmaastricht #contemporaryart #modernart #artofinstagram #artlover #artcollector

Discover my full coverage of @tefaf Maastricht 2024, now on artfairmag.com!

#tefaf #tefafmaastricht #contemporaryart #modernart #artofinstagram #artlover #artcollector
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Landau Fine Art at @tefaf Maastricht 2024. Founder Jennifer Landau presents a masterpiece by Vassily Kandinsky from 1910.

#vassilykandinsky #kandinsky #tefaf #tefafmaastricht #abstraction #masterpiece #modernart #modernpainting

Landau Fine Art at @tefaf Maastricht 2024. Founder Jennifer Landau presents a masterpiece by Vassily Kandinsky from 1910.

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...

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