Art of Contemporary Africa (AOCA), described as San Francisco's first Pan-African contemporary art gallery, has opened a permanent space at the Minnesota Street Project. Founded by gallerist Craig Mark and photographer Clint Strydom, it operates as a sister space to The Melrose Gallery in Johannesburg and represents a broad roster of artists from across Africa and its diasporas, including the internationally recognized Dr Esther Mahlangu.
The gallery's inaugural exhibition, 'Afropop,' showcases this diverse roster and positions the artists as central, active contributors to global contemporary art discourse. The opening of a permanent gallery, following years of participation in major US art fairs, signals a strategic shift from periodic engagement to establishing a sustained institutional presence for African artists within the American art landscape.