
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2025
Marrakech is one of the world’s top 5 emerging art capitals, according to influential marketplace Artsy. As the city prepares for the latest edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, we take a look at the prestigious event, the new exhibition we’re hosting to coincide with it and deep dive into all the other must-sees.
The rise – and rise – of African art is something we’ve always championed at El Fenn. With our roots in the founding of the Marrakech Biennale, which ran for six editions and attracted art fans from all over the world, we’ve always believed that work by local artists deserves a platform on the world stage. The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is the next evolution of that mission.
Launched in 2013 by Touria el Glaoui, whose father Hassan was one of Morocco’s most famous artists, 1-54 was created to give African art an equitable stake in the global art scene. With fairs in London and New York, the latest Marrakech edition of 1-54 starts on January 30th.

Touria Glaoui
The event has become one of the high points of the international art calendar, attracting collectors and gallerists from all over the world, and work by 80 artists from 15 countries will be on show across two sites this year. There’ll also be fringe exhibits at galleries all over Marrakech.
Bouchra Boudoua
Here at El Fenn, we’re partnering with Loft Gallery to highlight new work by Bouchra Boudoua. Born and raised in Casablanca, she studied spatial design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London before returning to Morocco where she founded her eponymous ceramics line and collaborated with brands including Dior and The Conran Shop.
Moroccan craftsmanship and clay were key and now Bouchra is translating those themes into her art.
After her first solo show in Casablanca last autumn, new work which will be on show at El Fenn from Thursday January 30th. Bouchra’s mixed media art uses clay as well as paint, graphic shapes and primary colours, to bridge traditional Moroccan craft techniques with contemporary art practices and explore themes of memory, place, and cultural preservation.
Maïssane Alibrahimi, Socle de la couleur, 2021, 3D pen on floor tiles, Variable dimensions. Courtesy of Hunna Art
Taher Jaoui, Background noise, 2023 – Courtesy of GALERIE FARAH FAKHRI and Taher Jaoui
Sara Benabdallah, Sacred Tree 2024 – Courtesy of Nil Gallery
Kwaku Yaro, Apogfiik, 2024 – Courtesy of Gallery 1957.
Chigozie Obi, Cozy Comfort, 2024 – Courtesy C+N Gallery CANEPANERI & the Artist
Armand Boua, Exchange, 2023 – Courtesy of Galerie 208
Amine El Gotaibi, Un Accord avec la Laine 8 – Action IV, 2023 – Courtesy of MCC GALLERY.
Amine Asselman, Metamorphosis Black, White & Gold, 2024 – Courtesy of the Artist & CDA Gallery
Aly Ben Salem Untitled, Circa 1940 – Courtesy of Le Violon Bleu Gallery
Alex Burke 2024 – Courtesy of the artist and Loeve&Co
Over at the main 1-54 exhibition, fifteen galleries – ten of which are Morocco-based – will be showing work at La Mamounia and DaDa Gallery. Established names including Rita Alaoui, Ali Maimoun and Abdelmalek Berhiss will feature, as well as newer ones from Morocco, Africa and its diaspora. The Ross-Sutton Gallery for instance will be showing work by Dina Nur Satti – a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist and designer originally from Sudan and Somalia – while London’s The African Art Hub will be showcasing Nigerian artist Kingsley Ayogu.

DINA NUR SATT @brandonthomasbrown
There are also special projects running during the three-day event.
The Kalhath Foundation will be presenting its project with Amina Benbouchta who uses embroidery to explore tradition, identity and gender. The Tanger Print club, part of the non-profit Think Tanger, is also presenting a selection of its artists, and L’appartement 22, an independent co-operative art space founded in Rabat in 2002, will also participating in 1-54.
Mo Balaa at the MCC Gallery
Galleries all over town will be showing fringe exhibitions too. Our picks include Mo Balaa’s ‘Under the Silver Tree’ at MCC Gallery in Sidi Ghanem. Entirely self-taught, Balaa’s stunning work includes painting and collage, as well as huge canvases covered in intricate leather cuts of animals, people and symbols – large works of storytelling, colour and craft. It’s fascinating.
Mous Lamrabat at Loft Gallery
Over at Loft Gallery in Gueliz, work by Belgian-Moroccan artist Mous Lambrabat will be on display. After studying architecture, Lamrabat became increasingly interested in photography and his portraits span everything from pop culture and brand references, to naturalist Moroccan scenery and landscapes.
It’s going to be an inspiring – and exciting – few days here in Marrakech. We’ve got a Curated Art Weekend running here at El Fenn to help culture fans deep dive into the event alongside our co-owner, gallerist and collector Vanessa Branson. And don’t forget El Fenn’s permanent art collection, which is on show throughout the hotel, features artists from Morocco, Africa and beyond.
We can’t wait to see you and share Africa’s dynamic art scene.
For more information go to https://www.1-54.com/marrakech/
You can read our interview with Touria El Glaoui here