As the art world prepares to rebound to pre-pandemic heights, 2024 promises to be a momentous year with an anticipated surge in exhibitions and art fairs globally. Let’s delve into some of the major art events to anticipate in 2024.
Eye Me, Zanele Muholi
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
18 January–11 August, 2024
Eye Me marks a significant milestone as the first major museum solo exhibition of South African artist Zanele Muholi on the West Coast. With over 100 photographs spanning from 2002 to the present day, complemented by a selection of paintings, sculptures, and video works, the exhibition provides a comprehensive exploration of Muholi’s artistic journey. Known for their profound engagement with the Black queer community in post-Apartheid South Africa, Muholi’s work seamlessly blends artistry with activism, emphasising the resilience, beauty, and intricate history of LGBTQ+ communities. Muholi will also show later in the year, 6 June - 26 January 2025, with a mid-career survey at London’s Tate Modern.
Zanele Muholi, Bhekisisa Sakouli Beach, Mayotte (2016). Images © Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Stevenson Gallery and the artist
1-54 Marrakech
8-10 February
Established in 2013 by Touria El Glaoui, 1-54 stands as a force in the realm of contemporary African art and its diaspora. As the premier international fair dedicated to providing visibility to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. In a significant stride forward, 1-54 is expanding its presence in Marrakech with the inauguration of a second location at DaDa. This move underscores the fair's dedication to further engaging with the art scene in Marrakech, reflecting its continued growth and success. 1-54 will host a series of curated programming, featuring specially selected content, events, and collaborations. Participating galleries will present meticulously curated collections of contemporary works by emerging and established artists, offering visitors a glimpse into the forefront of artistic innovation.
This expansion heralds an exciting chapter for 1-54 and the broader Marrakech art community, promising a week of celebration and exploration of the city's vibrant cultural landscape.
Image courtesy of La Galerie 38
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
16-18 February 2024
Celebrating its 11th edition, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair is Africa’s largest art fair, featuring renowned galleries from around the world. With a focus on contemporary art, the fair offers a platform for artistic dialogue and exchange, underpinned by this year’s theme, "Unbound," which explores the boundless potential of art to challenge and inspire.
Image courtesy of Ebony Curated. Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2024, Solo Section | S2
1-54 Presents, Hong Kong
March 2024
Expanding its global footprint, the renowned contemporary African art fair, 1-54, is venturing into the Asian market with a series titled 1-54 Presents at Christie's during Art Basel Hong Kong. Following the success of its recent showcase during Frieze London, featuring the exhibition Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Narratives in Contemporary Art, curated by Caryl Ivrisse Crochemar, 1-54 aims to continue its momentum in the harbour city. While the specific program is yet to be announced, the fair plans to collaborate with galleries that have been integral to its past editions. Perhaps recent auction records set by African-born artists like Julie Mehretu and Amoako Boafo in Hong Kong underscore the growing significance of the region in the global art market.
Deborah JACK, Untitled #1, from Intertidal Imaginaries: The Resistant Geographies of the Shore(coast) in the Aftermath of Saltwater (storm surges), 2021. Archival C-Print on Baryta Fine Art Paper, 40 x 60 in (101.6 x 152.4 cm), Ed. 1-3 of 3. Courtesy of the artist & PEN+BRUSH gallery.
The Venice Biennale
20 April–24 November 2024
The 60th edition of the Venice Biennale, the oldest and most prestigious art biennial, opens its doors in April. Curated under the theme "Foreigners Everywhere" by Adriano Pedrosa, the Biennale spotlights artists who navigate between the Global South and North, particularly of no boundaries, “a world rife with multiple crises concerning the movement and existence of people across countries”. Noteworthy participations include the debut of the Tanzania and Benin pavilions.
The 60th International Art Exhibition from 20 April to Sunday 24 November 2024, curated by Adriano Pedrosa.
The Dakar Biennale
16 May-16 June 2024
The Dakar Biennale, fondly known as Dak'Art exhibits a diverse array of artistic expressions ranging from painting and graffiti to photography and textiles. In 2024, under the curatorship of esteemed art critic and composer Salimata Diop, the biennale will embark on a thought-provoking journey titled "The Wake." This thematic exploration delves into the intricate interplay between art, society, climate, and history, particularly within the context of Dakar. With a clarion call for collective awareness regarding pressing social and environmental challenges, Dak'Art 2024 positions artists as catalysts for a new global narrative. Featuring the works of fifty-eight artists from Africa and its diaspora, the biennial promises a dynamic convergence of mediums, including drawing, virtual reality, sound, sculpture, and photography, fostering a rich tapestry of dialogue and reflection.
Dakar Biennale (Senegal), 16 mai-16 juin 2024. Image courtesy of Biennale de Dakar
Anyi Di Atọ Ibi, Toyin Ojih Odutola
Kunsthalle Basel
7 June-1 September 2024
Toyin Ojih Odutola opens "Anyi Di Atọ” (We Become The Third Place) at Kunsthalle Basel. Celebrating the artist's latest works, the showcase highlights her mastery of charcoal, pastel, and pencil mediums. Odutola's intricate drawings depict captivating moments from the lives of her figures, skillfully oscillating between stillness and motion. A standout feature of the exhibition is Odutola's debut animation film, adding a dynamic layer to her storytelling. Through this immersive experience, viewers are invited to delve into Odutola's fantastical world, exploring themes of identity and belonging.
Toyin Ojih Odutola, Back to the Body, 2023. Courtesy die Künstlerin and Jack Shainman Gallery