Exhibitions

The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell revisited by contemporary African artists is still on view at National Museum of African Art, Washington, US, from April 8 through August 2, 2015.

Curated by Simon Njami the exhibition explores thematic sequence of Dante’s epic poem through works crafted by nearly 40 African artists from 19 countries. Using a variety of media, the artists demonstrate how concepts visited in Dante’s poem transcend Western traditions and resonate with diverse contemporary cultures, belief systems and political issues. Overall, the exhibition provides a probing examination of life, death, and continued power of art to express the unspoken and intangible.

All the World’s Futures is the title of the 56th International Art Exhibition that will be open to the public at Venice, Italy, from May 9 to November 22, 2015.

Organized by la Biennale di Venezia and curated by Okwui Enwezor, the exhibition will present almost 140 artists from more than 50 countries, in an itinerary that will start at the Giardini and end at the Arsenale. Of works on display, nearly 160 are expressly realized for this specific edition. And the exhibition architecture is designed by David Adjaye. In parallel, there will be special presentations including Trans-African Worldspace by The Invisible Borders, a group of African artists composed mainly of photographers, filmmakers, and writers with the passion for social change.

Biennials

The past, the present, the possible is the central theme of the 12th Sharjah Biennial that is open since March 5, 2015 until June 5, 2015.  

Sharjah Biennial 12 invites over fifty artists including a handful of African artists and cultural practitioners to introduce their ideas of the possible through their art and work. The event takes place in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, crossing the emirate to sites in and around the city as well a in the city of Kalba on the Gulf of Oman. Curated by Eungie Joo along with associate curator Ryan Inouye, the biennial features new works and commissions by 36 artists and groups.

Art Fairs

1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair will open at Pioneer Works in New York, from May 15 to 17, 2015.

1:54 is a global platform that strives to promote the diversity of contemporary African art and cultural projects on an international stage. The fair will make its New York debut during the Frieze, and will present various artistic productions prepared by established artists as well as emerging talents. The event will also feature a forum curated by Koyo Kouoh including a programme of talks and panel discussions to explore critical topics related to African art. A special focus will be given to notions of African diasporic identities as represented in the arenas of intellectual, cultural and artistic practices across the last 35 years.

Auctions

Africa Now contemporary African art auction will be open at Bonhams, London, UK, on May 20, 2015.

Since 2009, Bonhams organizes an annual auction on contemporary African art which represents a great potential for investment. Every year, the auction remains at the forefront of the art market as the only sale specifically dedicated to African art. The sales include the very best of works by African artists in various media including painting, photography, drawing, and sculpture.