The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will return to New York's Starrett-Lehigh Building from May 13 to May 17, 2026, for its 12th edition. Featuring over 20 exhibitors from 12 countries, the fair introduces a curated section titled "1-54 Presents: Brazil Beyond Brazil," led by Brazilian curator and professor Igor Simões, marking the fair's first focus on Afro-Brazilian art and the cultural connections between Africa and Latin America. New participants include Adegbola Gallery (Lagos), Aura (São Paulo), and Black Pony Gallery (Bermuda), alongside returning exhibitors such as 193 Gallery and Galerie Myrtis.
This edition matters because it expands the fair's transnational scope by centering Afro-Brazilian artistic production, challenging reductive narratives of Brazilian art as exoticized or folkloric. By highlighting the largest African-descendant nation outside the continent, the fair deepens its exploration of diasporic narratives and reinforces its role as a leading global platform for contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. The inclusion of Congolese artists like Chéri Chérin and Marcel Gotène further underscores the fair's commitment to showcasing diverse artistic lineages.