The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is holding its 11th New York edition at the Halo in the Financial District through May 11. Founder Touria El Glaoui notes a market shift toward more accessible pieces and prices amid the turbulent US economy. Of 30 participating dealers, ten are US-based, including first-time participant Gallery Article 15 from Washington, DC, which specializes in Congolese contemporary art. Other US galleries like Yossi Milo from Chelsea and Knowhere Art Gallery from Martha’s Vineyard are showing works by artists such as Samuel Fosso, Ibrahim Said, Sanlé Sory, Adana Tillman, and Maria-Lana Queen, with prices ranging from $500 to $36,000.
The fair’s move to the Halo and the strong US gallery presence signal growing institutional and commercial interest in African and diaspora contemporary art within the American market. The emphasis on affordable works—with many pieces under $10,000—reflects a strategic response to current economic uncertainty, potentially broadening collector access and diversifying the market beyond established African art hubs like Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria. The fair’s continued focus on the full African diaspora also underscores its unique curatorial position in the global art fair landscape.