Set in the storied Somerset House, the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair offers a wide array of galleries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North American. Much of the most striking work we came across saw artists mining their own personal histories and cultural backgrounds to examine the construction of identity and to offer critiques of contemporary culture both within African countries and in diasporic communities in the West. The mix of established and lesser-known galleries is refreshing, and there are plenty of projects, talks, and performances to keep it dynamic. And the historic Somerset House offers a welcome respite from the fair tent. It’s worth a trip. Galerie shares their '6 Artists to Know' at the fair, including Shiraz Bayjoo.
