Starting tomorrow, Gallery 1957 will be presenting at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech a trio of artists, Amoako Boafo, Rita Mawuena Benissan, and Zanele Muholi, who use portraiture, photography, and textiles to explore interconnected knowledge.

Gallery 1957 is a contemporary art venue in Accra, Ghana, and London, UK, promoting global interactions among artistic communities. Founded in 2016, it has expanded to include three locations and extended its reach to London. The gallery hosts exhibitions, installations, and performances, drawing international talent and professionals. In 2021, it introduced the Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize, targeting female Ghanaian artists. Gallery 1957 also participates in art fairs, talks, off-site projects, and publishing, supporting cultural projects in Ghana, Africa, and globally.

Amoako Boafo, a prominent figure in the Black community, is known for his captivating finger-painted portraits, which captivate the viewer and lead to an intellectual exploration of both tangible and conceptual aspects of global Black communities.

Rita Mawuena Benissan rethinks cultural histories and archives by transforming the royal umbrella from a symbol of historical importance to a piece of artisanal tapestry. Benissan collaborates with artisans from the royal Ashanti village in Kumasi to bring archival imagery to life with embroidered velvet.

Zanele Muholi’s compelling, introspective photographs challenge viewers, using the return gaze as a powerful tool of visual activism. Their ongoing series, Somnyama Ngonyama, focuses on issues of labor, racism, Eurocentrism, and sexual politics, highlighting the lives of marginalized communities and pushing for greater visibility and representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa and internationally.

Source: Gallery 1957