1st contemporary African art fair held in London

London will host the first international, contemporary African art fair in October 2013 in London, it has been announced today.

African media house IC Publications is partnering with the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair to hold the event at Somerset House in the city from 14th-20th October.

Founded by Touria El Glaoui, daughter of celebrated Moroccan artist Hassan El Glaoui, 1:54 will be the first international art fair dedicated exclusively to contemporary African art and will run concurrently with the world-renowned London Frieze Art Fair.

The fair will be held in the historic settings of Somerset House in central London and will be designed by award-winning Ghanaian/British architect, David Adjaye - the man responsible for the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo and the forthcoming $500m National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.

Founder of 1:54, Touria El Glaoui, said: " We are very excited to have IC publication as our media partner for 1:54, the first fair dedicated to Contemporary African Art. The fair aims to promote on an international level established and emerging talents from Africa and the African Diaspora."

Omar Ben Yedder, Managing Director of IC Publications said: "African art is finally getting the attention its artists and art deserves and 1:54 will be a showcase for a lot of what is good in African art today. We are truly excited about 1:54 I am delighted as this is something that is very close to me personally. Touria has put together an impressive and highly talented team to lead this initiative. I think that all lovers of art have something very exciting to look forward to later this year and African art, thanks to 1:54, will have its deserved place on the international stage. Expect a vibrant exhibition of colour, emotion and passion”.