The 1-54 Art Fair returned to Marrakech for its sixth edition, which took place from Thursday, January 30, to Sunday, February 2, 2025. Hosted at the La Mamounia hotel and the DaDa cultural events space, the fair featured 30 exhibitors representing 14 countries, with half of them hailing from Africa.
It’s safe to say that the just-concluded event reaffirmed its status as a key platform for showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Touria El Glaoui, the founder of the art fair, shared with ARTnews that the annual event has attracted many collectors and institutions to Marrakech, resulting in a “huge impact on the Moroccan ecosystem.” According to her, this influx of interest has led to the opening of several new galleries in the city.
“In this edition, there is a very good balance between African, international and local Moroccan galleries,” El Glaoui remarked.
On opening day, one of the major sales at the fair was the Tate’s acquisition of ‘Blank Stare’ (2021), a painting by Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo. This acquisition was made possible through the Tate’s Africa Acquisitions Committee Catalyst Fund.
In an Instagram post, Gregor Muir, Director of Tate’s Collection, and Osei Bonsu, Curator of International Art, released a joint statement in which they wrote:
“We are delighted to bring this extraordinary painting into Tate’s collection, where it will be seen by millions of visitors in our galleries and beyond, for generations to come. Our thanks go to 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, to the artist, Amoako Boafo, and to Gallery 1957 for generously making this possible.”
Amoako Boafo, known for his expressive finger-painting technique, has gained international acclaim for his portraits that celebrate Black identity. Born in Accra, Ghana, in 1984, Boafo studied at the Ghanatta College of Art and Design and later at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. His work is included in prestigious collections, such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Albertina Museum in Vienna.
The four-day fair also saw strong sales from various galleries, especially through the works of artists like Younes Khourassani, Amine El Gotaibi, Malika Sqalli, and Charles-David Gnangoran.
What to Know About 1-54 Art Fair
Since its inception in 2013, the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has attracted a diverse collector base, which includes European, African, Middle Eastern, and even Asian collectors. 1-54 means that the fair represents the 54 countries in Africa. It initially took place in London, expanded to New York in 2015, and then to Marrakech in 2018.
The fair’s program includes curated events, talks, and special projects in partnership with institutions such as the Kalhath Foundation, Fondation TGCC, and Think Tanger, Tanger Print Club.
