Celebrating a Decade of Contemporary African Art: The 1-54 New York Art Fair

From May 8 to 11, 2025, the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will make its much-anticipated return to New York City, marking its eleventh edition and commemorating ten impactful years of artistic presence in the city. This year, the fair will debut at The Halo, located at 28 Liberty Street—a striking venue in Manhattan’s bustling financial district. This fresh location promises a dynamic backdrop, enriching the fair’s reputation as a pillar of the New York cultural calendar each spring.

Exhibitors and Artists

With approximately 30 exhibitors participating from Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean, the fair will showcase the work of over 70 talented artists. These creators span a diverse range of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, installation, and digital art. The 2025 edition aims to solidify 1-54’s vital role in promoting contemporary African and diasporic art on an international stage, attracting not only collectors and curators but also engaging with a broad public audience.

Curatorial Innovations

This edition will evolve from the curatorial groundwork laid in 2023 with the 1-54 Presents initiative, a series of pop-up exhibitions that resonate deeply with the fair’s mission. The inaugural show, titled Sparkling Islands: Another Postcard of the Caribbean, featured work from thirteen artists across the region, challenging stereotypical representations and offering a nuanced exploration of Caribbean artistic identity. Curated by the late Caryl Ivrisse Crochemar, this ambitious exhibition marked a significant shift toward engaging Caribbean narratives within the fair.

The 2025 Caribbean Spotlight, a key feature of this edition, builds directly on that initiative, honoring Crochemar’s vision while furthering the dialogue on contemporary Caribbean perspectives within the global art context.

A New Framework for Engagement

As 1-54 celebrates a decade in New York, this upcoming edition reinforces its dual identity: a commercial fair and a vital site for cultural exchange and research. Incorporating Caribbean perspectives offers a timely expansion of its mission, facilitating deeper conversations about identity, migration, resistance, and representation in the international art discourse.

Fair Overview

The 2025 edition of 1-54 is set within a spacious 30,000 square foot venue at The Halo, promising a vibrant atmosphere for its extensive international curatorial vision. Notably, eighteen galleries will be participating for the first time, including TERN Gallery from the Bahamas and Kub’Art Gallery from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The expositional diversity will span cities like Tokyo, Lagos, Johannesburg, Geneva, and Paris, reflecting a broad international reach with participants from across the globe.

Large-Scale Presentations

The fair will feature compelling large-scale presentations and artist-led projects that enrich the visitor experience. For instance, Gallery 1957 will showcase a thought-provoking work by Yaw Owusu, constructed entirely from US pennies and reimagining the American flag. This piece serves as a catalyst for reflection on themes of liberty and national identity. Furthermore, Almine Rech will present FIGURES OF MIRACLE, a raffia installation by Joël Andrianomearisoa that delves into memory and cultural symbolism.

Honoring Legacy and New Voices

Prominent collaborations will honor the legacy of David Krut Projects, which has played a pivotal role in introducing South African artists to New York for over 25 years. The Kalashnikovv Gallery will showcase artists who have collaborated in the same Johannesburg workshop as the renowned William Kentridge, highlighting both established and emerging artistic voices from the region.

Caribbean Spotlight

As part of its dedicated Caribbean initiatives, the 2025 edition will honor the groundwork laid by Sparkling Islands. Curated by ATLANTIC ARTHOUSE, the Caribbean Spotlight will highlight eight contemporary artists whose work engages with themes of migration, memory, and cultural hybridity. This collaborative approach embodies a commitment to increasing visibility for underrepresented artists from Caribbean, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Latinx communities.

Galerie Loeve & Co will contribute to the Caribbean narrative by presenting a group exhibition that includes Haitian modernist Roland Dorcély, adding historical depth to the contemporary dialogue while exploring connections with broader modernist movements.

Afro-Caribbean Resource Library

The fair will also introduce the Afro-Caribbean Resource Library by FORGOTTEN LANDS, located in the lounge area. This curated collection of publications encompassing poetry, fiction, and political discourse aims to deepen engagement with Caribbean literary and theoretical frameworks, encouraging reflection on the themes that shape contemporary practices.

Expanding Horizons

The 2025 edition of 1-54 New York signifies a vibrant moment in the fair’s decade-long journey. Leveraging its new financial district location, this year’s edition promises an adaptable venue for gallery exhibitions and curated interventions. With around 30 exhibitors from 17 countries, it aims to engage a wider audience and foster meaningful dialogues among art collectors, curators, and institutions.

New initiatives, such as the Caribbean Spotlight and the Afro-Caribbean Resource Library, enhance the fair’s context and curatorial vision. The interplay between historical voices, like Dorcély, and contemporary artists will underscore a growing interest in nuanced, intergenerational narratives, ensuring that the fair continues to champion contemporary African art and cultural heritage.

In celebrating a decade in New York, 1-54 remains committed to expanding its horizons and deepening its mission. Each yearly edition builds upon the last, striving to create meaningful connections across continents, generations, and artistic perspectives, while fostering a vibrant space for dialogue and discovery in contemporary art.