6th 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Mohamed Nait Youssef
Starting Thursday, all eyes will be on the Red City, which will host the famous 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair from January 30 to February 2, 2025. An unmissable event long-awaited by gallery owners, artists, professionals, collectors, and contemporary art enthusiasts, this major art gathering will take place at La Mamounia and the multidisciplinary art space DaDa, in the heart of the Medina in Marrakech, with significant participation from Moroccan artists and gallery owners.
Strong Moroccan participation
Out of a total of 30 exhibitors from fourteen different countries, including fourteen galleries from the African continent, ten of which are based in Morocco, have confirmed their presence at this largest global platform for contemporary art from Africa and the African diaspora. For this sixth edition, the art gallery L’Atelier 21 will present at La Mamounia, Marrakech, Stand No. LM2, works by artists M’barek Bouhchichi (Morocco), Margaux Derhy (Morocco), Safaa Erruas (Morocco), Najia Mehadji (Morocco), and Malick Welli (Senegal).
"Committed to dialogue and exchange, the 1-54 fair brings together galleries from the continent but also from the rest of the world, and has established itself as an essential meeting place for African creation. L’Atelier 21 is participating to highlight the significant contribution of Moroccan and African artists to global contemporary art," the gallery revealed in a press release.
Furthermore, African Arty (Casablanca, Morocco), presenting a solo stand of sculptures and paintings by Moroccan artist Abderrahmane Rahoule, and CDA Gallery (Casablanca, Morocco), will unveil works by emerging young artists to the public, notably Amine Asselman, Muhcine Ennou, Rahma Lhoussig, and Yvanovitch Mbaya.
Galerie 38 (Casablanca/Marrakech, Morocco), with a selection of works by significant artists from the gallery's program, including Mohamed Hamidi, Kendell Geers, Younes Khourassani, Ghizlane Agzenaï, Meriam Benkirane, and Yacout Hamdouch, will be among the exhibitors for this edition.
In addition, Loft Art Gallery (Casablanca, Morocco) will return with a selection of entirely Moroccan artists, including Amina Agueznay, Bouchra Boudoua, and Nassim Azarzar, who will be present during this event.
Other galleries include: MCC GALLERY (Marrakech, Morocco), with a stand dedicated to photography by artists Houda Kabbaj, Malika Sqalli, and Mustapha Azeroual; Galerie Myriem Himmich (Casablanca, Morocco), presenting works by artists Zineb Mezzour, Bouchra El Menjra, and Valérie Ohana; and So Art Gallery (Casablanca, Morocco), with a stand featuring works by Aidan Marak, Ange Dakouo, and Adjei Tawiah.
Created in March 2016 with the aim of supporting young emerging Moroccan and international artists, Galerie SINIYA28 (Marrakech, Morocco) will present works by Rita Alaoui, Rachid Bouhamidi, Abdelmalek Berhiss, and Ali Maimoun, Hunna Art.
Furthermore, Abla Ababou Galerie, having opened its doors in April 2017, will mark its first official participation in the 1-54 fair with four artists: Noureddine Amir, Hakim Benchekroun, Ilias Selfati, and Fatiha Zemmouri.
"We are delighted to return to Marrakech for the 2025 edition of 1-54, which will once again be held in the iconic settings of La Mamounia and the dynamic multidisciplinary art space DaDa, in the heart of the Medina. This year's fair welcomes an exciting array of exhibitors, including notable newcomers from further afield such as space Un from Tokyo and Hunna Art from Kuwait," affirmed Touria El Glaoui, founding director of 1-54.
Moroccan participation will be strengthened by the participation of Mahi Binebine, represented by Galerie 208 (Paris, France), and artists Omar Mahfoudi and Mouhcine Rahaoui, represented by AFIKARIS (Paris, France).
Special Projects made in Morocco
Other Moroccan artists will unveil their works and projects as part of a dynamic program of events and Special Projects, organized by 1-54 Marrakech in partnership with local and international institutions, notably the TGCC Foundation, Think Tanger, L’appartement 22, and the Kalhath Foundation.
In this context, the Kalhath Foundation presents a project by Amina Benbouchta that explores cultural ties and gender narratives through embroidery. As for the TGCC Foundation, it will present the talents of the Mustaqbal Prize throughout the 4 editions in a collective exhibition that will bring together works by Khadija El Abyad, Mouad El Bissaoui, Malek Sordo, Yassine Sellame, Mehdi Ait El Mallali, and Rida Tabit.
The article Art and Moroccan artists at the heart of 1-54 Marrakech first appeared on ALBAYANE.
