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Modern African Art : A Basic Reading List

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1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (1st : 2013 : London, England). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2013 London: Art Africa, 2013. 87pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2013 AFA. OCLC 890004063.

In 2013, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair was launched in London. African art joined the realm of art fairs around the world. (The ‘54’ represents the number of African countries). Seventy-two artists were represented by seventeen galleries. A forum for discussion about the state of contemporary African art accompanied the fair.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (2nd : 2014 : London, England). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2014. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2014. 1 volume (unpaged). illus. (color). N7380.O54 2014 AFA. OCLC 908168522.

Year two of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair witnessed an expansion of the number of galleries and art centers on the continent and off that exhibited—twenty-nine. This meant that more artists were represented—106. The concurrent forum was again organized by Koyo Kouoh.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (3rd : 2015 : London, England). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2015. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2015. 170pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2015b AFA. OCLC 929906367.

In 2015, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair spread its wings to New York with a selection of artworks shown in May. Sixty-six artists were represented by sixteen galleries. The main London event in October expanded to 134 artists presented by 38 galleries and art centers. It was also announced that 1:54 would change from an annual to a biannual event.

A separate catalog was published for the New York edition of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2015. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2015. 85 pp.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (4th : 2016 : New York, N.Y.). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2016 / editor, Gabriella Beckhurst. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2016. 96pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2017 AFA. OCLC 952421831.

The 2016 New York version of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair featured 18 exhibitors who presented the work of 65 artists. The six Special Projects included commissions, installations, and performance.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (5th : 2017 : London, England). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2017 / editor, Gabriella Beckhurst. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2017. 179pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2017 AFA. OCLC 1008186809.

The 2017 London version of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair featured 42 exhibitors who presented the work of 126 artists. The twelve Special Projects, included group art projects, commissions, installations, performance, and film screening.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (6th : 2018 : London, England). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2018 / editor, Sala Shaker. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2018. 163 pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2018 AFA. OCLC 1096327067.

One hundred and fifteen African artists, mostly Black artists, sponsored by 39 art galleries, presented at the 6th :2018 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, in London. Ten Special Projects are featured. Ekow Eshun was the Forum program curator.



1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair (6th : 2018 : New York, N.Y.). 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair: 2018 / editors, Sala Shaker, Kefiloe Siwisa. London: Art Africa Ltd., 2018. 98 pp. illus. (color). N7380.O54 2018b AFA. OCLC 1028520885.

Sixty-six African artists, sponsored by 21 international art galleries, presented at the 6th 1:54 Art Fair in New York, 2018. Most of the artists are young and middle aged, though a few elders participated, too. Seven Special Projects are featured. Omar Berrada led the Forum of 1:54.



Africa now. Seoul, Korea: Seoul Museum of Art, 2014. 203 pp. illus. (color), bibl. refs. Text in Korean with English translation. N7380.5.A3744 2014 AFA. OCLC 934816135.

Africa now is the first major exhibition of contemporary African art in Korea. For the Korean audience, Africa now engages Western-oriented ideas and the African diaspora as part of the global culture. Participating artists include: John Akomfrah, Yinka Shonibare, Chris Ofili, Nick Cave, Lyle Ashton Harris, Kevin Beasley, Kehinde Wiley, Theaster Gates, Hank Willis Thomas, Victor Ekpuk, Joël Andrianomearisoa, Anton Kannemeyer, Jodi Bieber, Nontsikelelo Veleko, Gonçalo Mabunda, Stephen Burks, Heath Nash, Ardmore Ceramic Art, Rachid Koraïchi, Linda Day Clark, and Ubuhle Beads. Includes catalog essays by Paul Gilroy, Suk-koo Rhee, Jihoon Kim, and Regina Shin.



Africa, raccontare un mondo = Africa, telling a world / cura di Ginevra Bria. Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana Editoriale, 2017. 255 pp. illus. (some color). Text in Italian and English. N7380.5.A395 2017 AFA. OCLC 1002281292.

Private collections of contemporary African art are beginning to get greater exposure through exhibitions. In 2017, the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, an Italian exhibition space devoted exclusively to contemporary art, showed African artworks from three major European collections: Gervanne and Matthias Leridon, Jean Pigozzi, and Thierry Barbier-Mueller. Thirty-three artists and designers are represented in the exhibition—the majority are well-established artists from sub-Saharan Africa.



Dak’art (Exhibition) (10th : 2012 : Dakar, Senegal). 10e biennale de l’art Africain contemporain = 10th Biennial of Contemporary African Art / conception du catalogue, Ousseynou Wade, Lucie Falque-Vert. Dakar, Senegal: Secrétariat general de la biennale des arts, 2012. 192 pp. illus. (chiefly color), portraits, bibliog. N5090.D13 D35 2012 AFA. OCLC 820373469.

Dak’art 2012, the 10th edition, valiantly tried to reach its Pan-African ideal—a few East African artists were invited. But the biennial remains a predominantly francophone and South African gathering. Interestingly, the African diaspora appears to have been side-stepped this year. Tribute exhibitions were presented for two Senegalese artists, Joe Ouakam (aka Issa Samb) and Papa Ibra Tall. Three guest artists were given solo shows: Peter Clarke (South Africa), Berni Searle (South Africa) and the late Goddy Leye (Cameroon). Also invited to mount a project was the Spanish Institut Valencien d’Art Moderne. The primary international exhibition featured forty-two artists, all of whom are included in this catalog. The commentary and essays by curators and others are rather “Ho-hum,” although Yacouba Konate’s piece on Vohou-Vohou stands out from the pack.



Dak’art (Exhibition) (11th : 2014 : Dakar, Senegal). 11e biennale de l’art africain contemporain = 11th biennial of contemporary African art. Dakar: Secrétariat général de la biennale des l’arts, 2014. 375pp. illus. (chiefly color), portraits. N5090.D13D35 2014 AFA. OCLC 880133205.

Growing in size and still struggling for autonomy, Dak’art 2014 successfully presented 131 artists, not counting the ‘Off’ exhibitions. There were five official exhibitions: international artists (62); guest artists both African and non-African (32); a sculpture salon (17); “green art” outdoor environmental-themed art (7); and homage to three elder artists. Also includes short essays by the “commissioners” (curators) and other art critics and writers.


Dak’art 2010 (9th : 2010 : Dakar, Senegal). Dak’art 2010: 9ème biennale de l’art africain contemporain = 9th Biennial of contemporary African art. Dakar: Secrétariat general de la biennale des arts, 2010. 190pp. illus. (color), bibl. refs. Text in French and English. N5090.D13D35 2010 AFA. OCLC 640112702

Although well established in the firmament of global biennales, Dak’art reveals its existential angst in the self-reflexive essays by curators and critics. “To exist or perish,” “a gamble with the future,” “stakes and challenges,” “transplant or adaptation of a model?” Twenty-six artists featured in the main exhibition, all new to Dak’art. With tribute to the past, nine previous Dak’art grand prize winners were given an exhibition, following the theme of retrospection - - Fatma Charfi, Mansour Ciss Kanakassy, Viyé Diba, Moustapha Dime, Mounir Fatmi, Abdoulaye Konaté, Ndary Lo, Michèle Magema, and Zerihun Yetmegeta.


Dakar-Martigny: hommage a` la Biennale d'art contemporain / He´le`ne Tissie`res [and others]. Martigny, Switzerland: Art-Ray, Manoir de la Ville de Martigny, 2016. 152 pp. illus. (chiefly color). N7380.5.D35 2016 AFA. OCLC 1084745925.

The Dakar-Martigny project: Tribute to the Biennale of Contemporary Art gives voice to contemporary African creation through a selection of works, exhibited at Dak'Art. From June 10 to September 18, 2016, the public is invited to discover the vast and rich world of contemporary African art: 10 exhibition venues in the city of Martigny, more than 30 exceptional artists presenting painting, installation- videos, design, sculpture. A musical, cinematographic and literary program accompanies the exhibition. There is a balance between paintings, sculptures, videos and photographs, as well as between renowned artists and young talents well established on the international scene. The work of Edmon Khalil, Douglas Sokari, Fabrice Monteiro or El Anatsui invite us to reflect on the lack of ecology and the urgent need to mobilize us by adopting other approaches. John Akomfrah and Nomusa Makhubu address the issue of the weight of history and the identity divide. Nu` Barreto, Aime´ Mpane, Bruce Clarke, George Hughes, Aboudia, Pacal Konan denounce the injustices that persist. Maksaens Denis and Pe´lagie Gbaguidi work on memory to talk about historical and personal experiences. Souleymane Keita, Moustapha Dime, Ndary Lo, Safaa Erruas, Abdoulaye Ndoye, Nirveda Alleck, Ismaila Fatty, Abdoulaye Konate´ maintain the approaches and periods, drawing on ancient cosmogonies and philosophies to motivate a contemplation. Sai¨dou Dicko, foils the unique identity, Ibrahima Kebe´ invests the orality to bring back scenes of life and Mwangi Hutter looks disillusioned on the cliche´s. Jean Servais Somian and Ce´sar Dogbo, through design, rely on the functional and the dialogue of cultures. –excerpts of a summary by He´le`ne Tissie`res, curator of the exhibition.



Dak'art (Exhibition) (12th : 2016 : Dakar, Senegal). La cité dans le jour bleu = the city in the blue daylight / editor, Simon Njami. Bielefeld: Kerber Verlag, 2016. 2 volumes. illustrations (chiefly color). Text in French and English. N5090.D13 D35 2016 AFA. OCLC 950472087.

The 12th edition of the Dak’art biennial, curated by Simon Njami, featured sixty-one artists—each showcased in this Volume 1 (of the 2-volume set).



Les inités: un choix d’oeuvres (1989-2009) dans la collection d’art contemporain africain de Jean Pigozzi. Paris: Dilecta, 2017. 275 pp. illus. (color), portraits. Text in French. N7380.5.I55 2017 AFA. OCLC 987439799.

This is the Jean Pigozzi African art collection redux. It has been several years since there was a major Pigozzi show. In 2017 through the collaboration of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the collection was brought out of storage for exhibition. Fifteen artists are presented, three of whom have died recently—Bodys Isek Kingelez, J. D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, and Malick Sidibé.

Contents: Jean Pigozzi, André Magnin / conversation avec Suzanne Pagé -- Résonnances / Angeline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande -- Constituer une collection de référence : la collection Pigozzi / Koyo Kouoh -- Regards croisés.



Milbourne, Karen. I AM . . . contemporary women artists of Africa. Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, 2019. 159 pages. illus. (color), bibliog. pp 143-151. N7380.5.M551 2019 AFA. OCLC 1143391313.

The National Museum of African Art is expanding its collection of artworks by African women artists. When the museum staff started to gender balance, only 11 percent of contemporary African art was made by women. It is now up to 22 percent and moving on. This I AM . . . catalog documents the history of African women artists and when their artworks were entered into the permanent collection.

Contents: Foreward -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Chapter 1: Institutional Herstory, Museums and the Underrepresentation of Women in the Arts -- Chapter 2: I Am..., More Than One Story -- Selected Readings – Index

The African artists represented in the I AM . . . exhibition are: Adejoke Tugbiyele; Aida Muluneh; Batoul S’Himi; Bertina Lopes; Billie Zangewa; Diane Victor; Etiyé Dimma Poulsen; Frances Goodman; Ghada Amer; Helga Kohl; Ladi Kwali; Magdalene Odundo; Mmakgabo Mmapula Mmankgato Helen Sebidi; MwangiHutter; Njideka Akunyili Crosby; Nike Okundaye; Nompumelelo Ngoma; Patience Torlowei; Patrizia Maïmouna Guerresi; Penelope Siopis; Senezeni Marasela; Sokari Douglas Camp; Sue Williamson; Susanne Wenger; Toyin Ojih Odutola; Wangechi Mutu.



Rencontres africaines de la photographie (9th : 2011 : Bamako, Mali). For a sustainable world: Rencontres de Bamako, African photography biennial, 9th edition. Paris: Institute français; Bamako, Mali: Malian Ministry of Culture; Arles: Actes Sud, 2011. 389pp. illus. (some color). OCLC 780937988. TR115.R43 2011 AFA.

Now established as Africa’s photography biennale, Rencontres africaines de la photographie in 2011 chose the theme “For a sustainable world.” The heart of the encounters was “The Pan-African Exhibition,” featuring 55 photographers. Seven monographic exhibitions showcased: David Goldblatt, Abdoulaye Barry, Kiripi Katembo, Nii Obodai, George Osodi, Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo, and Philippe Bordas. Additional sections pay tribute to Tunisian artists and Egyptian actors of the Arab Spring; a memorial to Goddy Leye; photographs in the Sindika Dokolo Collection; and several adjunct photo workshops.



The Divine Comedy: heaven, purgatory and hell revisited by contemporary African artists / editor, Simon Njami. Bielefeld: Kerber, 2014. 375pp. illus. (chiefly color), bibl. refs. N7380.5.G68813 2014 AFA. OCLC 876006935.

An overly curated exhibition by Simon Njami based superficially on Heaven, Hell and Purgatory of Dante's Divine Comedy. The 14th-century Catholic Italian poet has little in common with 21st-century secular African artists.



The Global Africa Project / edited by Martina D’Alton. New York: Museum of Arts and Design; Munich: Prestel, 2010. 262 pp. illus. (chiefly color), bibliog. (p. 248-251). N7380.5.G56 2010 AFA. OCLC 630457118.

African art and aesthetics have gone global as this dizzying array of 21st-century art attests. African artists and designers and their counterparts in the diaspora are featured in this 2010 exhibition at New York’s Museum of Arts and Design. The catalog and the exhibition are jam-packed with works by well-known, lesser known, and unknown artists. Design and fashion feature prominently, as do recycling and appropriation. Curators are Lowery Stokes and Leslie King-Hammond.

The exhibition Global Africa Project was reviewed by Sandrine Colard in African arts (Los Angeles) 45 (1) spring 2012, pages 86-87; by Barbara Pollack in Art news (New York) 110 (2) February 2011, page 102. The exhibition was critiqued by Glenn Adamson, "Tsunami Africa," Art in America (New York) 99 (3) March 2011, pages 67-72. Curator Lowery Stokes Sims’ interview by Elizabeth Gwinn is published in Studio (New York: Studio Museum in Harlem) winter-spring 2011, pages 50-53.



Who knows tomorrow / Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, nationalgalerie ; edited by Udo Kittlemann, Chika Okeke-Agulu and Britta Schmitz. Cologne; London: Walther Königm 2010, 629pp. illus. (pt. color), maps, bibl. refs. N7380.W46 2010 AFA. OCLC 646401385.

This catalog was published to accompany the exhibition held at the Berlin National Gallery, June 4-September 26, 2010. Richly illustrated, the catalog reflects on contemporary Africa and its cultural landscape through the lens of colonial history, using literary and scientific texts and essays. The exhibition included installations at four locations of the Nationalgalerie by five African artists: El Anatsui, Zarina Bhimji, António Ole, Yinka Shonibare MBE, and Pascale Marthine Tayou.