Touria El Glaoui on 1:54 Fair's Mission to Boost African Art in Europe

Touria El Glaoui, founder of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, discusses the fair's role in promoting African and diaspora artists in Europe. Launched in 2013, 1:54 (named after Africa's 54 countries) is the only fair dedicated to African contemporary art during Frieze week in London. For the first time in 2016, it includes a public events program at Somerset House from October 6-9. The fair features 40 galleries and 130 artists. El Glaoui notes that African art was one of the last to be discovered by collectors, sparking a race for emerging talent. She highlights institutional support from Tate (African Art Programme since 2011) and Southbank Centre (African Utopia in 2012), as well as the upcoming Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. The fair's Forum, curated by Koyo Kouoh, includes talks on fashion, architecture, and literature. El Glaoui hopes the fair maintains intimacy and accessibility despite growth.