1:54 | Stability and openness for the fair’s fifth London edition

Article
Over the years, 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair has consistently increased the number of galleries participating in its London edition. Its fifth edition marks no difference — the upcoming fair in the British capital broadens its horizons even further for 2017.

The fair will bring together 41 galleries — one more than last year — to Somerset House from October 5, through 8. 1:54, running parallel to Frieze, will also welcome 18 galleries from Africa, making for “its most geographically expansive edition yet.” In keeping with previous editions, the fair’s aim is to showcase the best form the African continent and celebrate the diversity of each country, rather than to focus from extensive representation from every part of Africa, as founder Touria El Glaoui explains.

Among this year’s newcomers are: Arte de Gema, Beardsmore Gallery, El Marsa, Galerie 127, Gallery MOMO, (which will also be at the Armory Show and EXPO Chicago) Ipsum Galeria, Lawrie Shabibi, Perve Galeria, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, Plutschow Gallery and SMO Contemporary Art.

Eight solo artist exhibitions have also been announced: Nidhal Chamekh (Selma Feriani Gallery), Safaa Erruas (L’Atelier 21), Ahmed Keshta (Ipsum Galeria), Atta Kwami (Beardsmore Gallery), Nelson Makamo (Gallery of African Art GAFRA), Ndikhumbule Ngqinambi (Barnard Gallery), Abe Odedina (Ed Cross Fine Art) and Zineb Sedira (Plutschow Gallery).

The full list of exhibiting galleries can be found here.

In 2018, 1:54 will hold its first edition on the African continent at Marrakesh’s Hotel de la Mamounia — running from February 20 through 24.