Africa’s Artists Deserve a Bigger Stage. Basel Is Just the Start
TGM Gallery Booth at Africa Basel 2025
In June 2025, Africa Basel emerged as a groundbreaking international platform for African contemporary art, held in Basel, Switzerland, alongside the world-renowned Art Basel. This inaugural fair not only showcased the vibrancy of African creativity but also sparked critical discussions about representation and inclusion in the global art world. Below is a reflection on its significance, its successes, and the challenges it faces in reshaping the narrative around African contemporary art.
Africa Basel’s debut from June 18–22, 2025, drew thousands of visitors to the Ackermannshof, establishing itself as a vital space for African contemporary art. Like other international fairs, it featured collectors, media partnerships, VIP services, talks with artists and experts, as well as artistic performances. Its strength lay in its vibrant mix of emerging and established galleries from both Africa and Europe, showcasing artists living on the continent alongside those from the diaspora, made possible by more affordable booth costs that enhanced visibility.
By the third day, over half of the 18 participating galleries had made sales. Barbara Kokpavo of Soview Gallery in Ghana described Basel as a “powerful platform.” The Moroccan Galerie 38, which recently opened a space in Geneva, showcased works by established artists like Kendell Geers and Barthélémy Toguo, further bridging African and global art scenes.
By positioning Africa at the heart of the global hub of contemporary art, Africa Basel captured a share of Art Basel’s over 88,000 visitors, amplifying a creative scene often sidelined in global art events.