Pan-African Art Fair Style : Artists' Edition

By PETRA MASON January 16th, 2026

Art Fairs are the world's most visible art stage. North to South, on the African continent, from Marrakech to Dakar, Nairobi to Cape Town, opening nights at contemporary art fairs have become a platform to tell pan-African contemporary style stories. Stories that mix eras and materials, less brand designer and more curated identity. Stories reflecting a cross-pollination between art, fashion and culture, a cultural canvas.Why does this resonate? Because the best art fair outfits tell stories and vernissage night is when the art stars are out.  Cape Town born, Johannesburg based painter Lady Skollie in front of her artwork wearing a nude dress of her own design. 

Curator, artist, educator and style icon Siwa Mgoboza is Johannesburg based. From top to toe: cap by MRKT, Prada Sunglasses, 'THOBE' fabric sourced and custom made in Dakar, Senegal. Leather pants by Roberto Cavalli, slides and cap bag by JW Anderson, bangles sourced from Cape Town informal markets.

Portrait of the artist Boemo Diale with her own art work. Boemo Diale is a Johannesburg based artist who frequently does clothing and fabric design collaborations.  

Ashara Ekundayo aka BluBlakWomyn, a Detroit based artist, indie curator, archivist an feminist platform gallerist.

South African artists and visual activists Zanele Muholi celebrated globally for their photography amplifying the experiences of Black LGBTQI individuals. 

Angela Wellman, an Oakland based musician, scholar, educator, and founder of  the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.

'Wear local, look global' is fashion curator and style guru Filipe 'Brah Stylez' motto. Artist collaborations are part of Filipe's DNA as are his deep appreciation of style subcultures.

Soweto born and based, Filipe is Jozi Town devotee and proud Africanist. 'I only buy from African designers. I always consider the diaspora of a garment'. Next up? Travels to Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, as always 'thinking on his toes' and cooking up looks. 

What are you wearing? David Tlale with RyanShava art Collab, Amanda Laird Cherry shirt, Ephymol skirt, Dakota shoes and bag by Poetry Museum.  

Eva Losada and Lezanne Viviers both wearing VIVIERS. The Johannesburg studio creates collectible clothing made in South Africa. 'Wearable Art' for artists, artisans, considered, conceptual, concious clothing all designed by Lezanne Viviers (right). 

Petra Mason selects : Pan-African Art Fair Calendar

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 5 - 8 February returns to Marrakech, Morocco. 

https://www.1-54.com 

The 7th Edition of 1-54 Marrakech brings together leading galleries from Africa and the world. The Moroccan city clearly asserts itself as one of the continent’s most dynamic arts scenes –  and the location of the fair, held at Africa’s top luxury hotel since 1923, the legendary La Mamounia, rather than a stuffy convention center, is hard to beat. 1-54 is all set to present special projects in partnership with institutions such as MACAAL, Monde des Arts de la Parure, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech, with bespoke events at local art residences, galleries and art spaces across the city, on rooftops and in the lush gardens of the city. Image supplied: La Mamounia, Marrakech.

Investec Cape Town Art Fair 20 - 22 February in South Africa. 

https://www.investeccapetownartfair.co.za

Guided by the curatorial concept ‘Listen’ Investec Cape Town Art Fair's 13th Edition this year promises to ‘bring together a diverse group of celebrated exhibitors' to heed the curatorial proposition and sensorial framework during Cape Town’s summer season.

Dak'Art Biennale of Contemporary African Art 11th Edition 9 May - 8 June Dakar, Senegal.

https://biennale.com

FNB Latitudes Art Fair 22-24 May for its fourth Edition at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg, a location transformed into a celebration of art from Africa.

https://www.latitudesartfair.com 

FNB Art Joburg 4 - 6 September at the location where these portraits were taken - the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

https://artjoburg.com

Portraits by Anthea Pokroy

https://www.antheapokroy.com

'We can never have enough of seeing black experiences presented in a loving, caring, joyful, emancipatory, triumphant and autobiographical way'.

- Cameroonian-Swiss Curator Koyo Kouoh [1967-2025]