1-54 London: Kofi Agorsor, Godfried Donkor, Salah Elmur and Modupeola Fadugba

For our seventh presentation at 1-54 London, Gallery 1957 is thrilled to present a curated encounter with some of the most respected and senior voices in contemporary African art - Kofi Agorsor, Godfried Donkor, Salah Elmur, and Modupeola Fadugba. Each has been working for decades, developing a distinctive language that blends deep engagement with history, materiality, and craft. Together, their works form a profound dialogue across generations and disciplines.

Across sculpture, embroidery, collage, and painting, the presentation unfolds as a meditation on art’s capacity to root us in tradition while opening toward transformation. These works share a grounded sensibility — a tactile engagement with material, a reverence for ritual, and a deep connection to nature. Rich earth-toned palettes, organic textures, and symbolic motifs create a cohesive visual language that draws visitors into a shared experience of memory, heritage, and becoming.

 

Taken together, the works in Gallery 1957’s Booth W18 articulate a constellation of voices exploring how histories and traditions are transformed in the making of the contemporary. They speak to the ways identity, heritage, and belonging are actively constructed - stitched, carved, painted, embroidered - and invite viewers into a space where craft and concept, memory and imagination, ritual and transformation converge. This presentation stands as a testament to the vitality of contemporary African art: rooted in ancestral knowledge, grounded in lived experience, and in constant dialogue with histories, archives, and futures.

 

Join us at Booth W18 from 16 - 19 October 2025 to experience the works in person!

 

Location:

Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA, United Kingdom

Opening Hours:

VIP Preview:
⁠VIP and Press Preview:
Thursday 16 October, 11 am – 7 pm⁠
⁠
Public and VIP Opening:
Friday 17 October, 11 – 7 pm
Saturday 18 October, 11 – 7 pm
Sunday 19 October, 11 – 6 pm