Each June, Switzerland becomes the global epicenter of contemporary art during Art Basel, attracting collectors, dealers, critics, and artists from all over the world. Yet within this vibrant atmosphere, a significant absence remains: that of African contemporary art, still underrepresented despite its undeniable dynamism. From this observation was born Africa Basel—an initiative held alongside, but not secondary to, Art Basel—aimed at giving artists and galleries from the African continent and its diaspora the visibility their creativity deserves.
The fair’s inaugural edition, taking place from June 18 to 22, will be held in the heart of Basel, offering visitors a unique experience that does justice to the richness and diversity of contemporary African art.
A New-Generation Fair
Conceived by Benjamin Füglister, founder of the CAP Prize for African photography, and Sven Eisenhut-Hug, former director of Photo Basel, Africa Basel does more than add another event to the art world calendar. Complementing established fairs like 1-54 or AKAA, it sets itself apart through its curated and intimate boutique fair format.
The curatorial team—comprising prominent figures such as Azu Nwagbogu, Michèle Sandoz, Serge Tiroche, and Greer Valley—has selected around twenty galleries with precision and care. The display, conceived as a coherent exhibition, breaks with the conventions of large art fairs. Set within the intimate grounds of the Ackermannshof, in Basel’s old town, Africa Basel replaces standard booths and rigid layouts with a fluid, immersive scenography designed to foster exchange and deeper engagement with the works on view.
More than just a marketplace, Africa Basel champions encounter and dialogue. Collectors, artists, institutions, researchers, and visitors mingle in a space conducive to discovery. Rather than replicate the dominant fair model, Africa Basel seeks to reinvent it—through a different geography and in response to different urgencies.
A Selective and Representative Line-Up
For its first edition, Africa Basel presents the full breadth of African contemporary art through eighteen galleries from around the world—from Morocco to South Africa, from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong. The selection includes pioneering international institutions such as October Gallery (London), alongside emerging local platforms like Circle Art Gallery (Kenya), Modzi Arts Gallery (Zambia), and First Floor Gallery Harare (Zimbabwe), reflecting the vitality of art scenes across the continent.
Visitors will experience the richness of African creativity through works by around sixty artists—established names and emerging voices—exploring a wide range of media and techniques, from the most classical to the most experimental: painting, sculpture, photography, video, textiles, installations, and performance art.
But Africa Basel goes beyond the confines of an art exhibition. The fair extends into the city with a vibrant public program. The Art World Passport project, conceived by the artHARARE collective, invites visitors to engage with a playful artistic “passport” that questions notions of belonging and mobility. The Fountain Artist Talks transform the Faule Magd fountain into an open stage for spontaneous exchanges with artists. Roundtables, screenings, tours, and performances round out a program designed to position Africa Basel not just as a fair, but as a laboratory of ideas and encounters.
A Long-Term, Committed Vision
Africa Basel is not intended as a one-off event. Its founders envision it as an annual fixture—an essential meeting point—and a sustainable ecosystem supporting contemporary African art.
Several projects are already underway: cross-residencies between African and European artists, off-site exhibitions, museum partnerships, a digital and editorial platform dedicated to African art criticism, and collaborations with art schools across both continents. The goal is clear: beyond visibility, Africa Basel seeks to foster the professional development of African galleries, facilitate market access for artists, and reshape narratives around contemporary African art.
By establishing itself in Basel, Africa Basel aims to amplify new voices and offer a different way of thinking about African art—far from clichés, and attuned to the urgencies of the contemporary world. An event poised to become a pillar of the international art calendar.
