1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Returns to Somerset House for 2026
The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will run at Somerset House in London from 15 to 18 October 2026. Its special project, 'West Wind', curated by Nancy Dantas, focuses on modernist artists from Africa and the diaspora, including Ibrahim El-Salahi and Bertina Lopes. The fair's 14th edition also includes a programme supporting emerging arts and culture writers.
The 14th edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will occupy Somerset House in London from 15 to 18 October 2026. Its special project, “West Wind,” curated by Nancy Dantas, takes its title from Miriam Makeba’s 1966 song and highlights modernist figures from Africa and its diaspora, among them Ibrahim El-Salahi and Bertina Lopes.
Additional presentations include Hassan Hajjaj’s “My London Rockstars,” featuring Jorja Smith, Slawn and Central Cee, and Kianda Contemporary Art Project’s “Angola, Angolé, Angolema,” curated by Marcos Jinguba. A writer-focused initiative led by Folasade Ologundudu, “(Re)Casting the Canon: From Lagos to London,” will offer writing labs and a pop-up exhibition.
The fair may broaden public access to modern and contemporary African and diasporic art, potentially drawing collectors, curators, students and local visitors to Somerset House. Its writing labs could help emerging critics shape wider narratives, while presentations like Hajjaj’s may connect visual art with music and fashion audiences. This could strengthen London’s role as a meeting point for African art networks, though impact depends on attendance, coverage and continued support for participating artists and writers.