1-54 New York Confessions : Craig Mark Unpacks The Melrose Gallery’s Showstopping Booth
During 1-54 New York 2025, The Melrose Gallery presented a stellar booth that brought together four major voices in South African and African contemporary art: Dr Esther Mahlangu, Pascal Konan, Mohau Modisakeng, and Clint Strydom—each from different generations and shaped by distinct personal narratives. We asked Director Craig Mark to walk us through the presentation and share his journey with The Melrose Gallery, now recognized as a singular heavyweight in the representation of Pan-African contemporary art.
The Melrose Gallery, 1-54 New York 2025
We can sense both passion and depths in Craig Mark’s words, director of The Melrose Gallery, as he speaks at 1-54 New York and reflects on his unique journey—one that began in childhood as his first encounter with the South African auction market. Having transitioned from Modern to Contemporary Art, Craig shares his expert insights in this exclusive interview for Mayi Arts. This is part one of our 1-54 New York series.
Ngalula MAFWATA : What has been the driver for The Melrose Gallery to partake in this edition of 1-54 New York?
Craig MARK : African artists have been historically underrepresented. I do think this is starting to change—there are more African curators finding their way into art fairs, museums, and galleries internationally. As a pan-African gallery based in South Africa, it felt essential for us to give our artists international exposure. Participating in 1-54 New York, which focuses specifically on African art, felt like the right next step. I’m based in San Francisco, so I work more with U.S. fairs now—giving our artists a platform here is a priority.
Ngalula MAFWATA : How have you seen perceptions of African contemporary art shift at international fairs like 1-54?
Craig MARK : We have done 1-54 New York this year, and we have been to London last year, so I won’t speak for before that regarding 1-54. What stands out however is that visitors at 1-54 already have a genuine interest in African contemporary art. At other international fairs, only a small percentage of the audience is interested in this category, which means you’re introducing them to something unfamiliar. That makes 1-54 a much more focused and rewarding space.
Ngalula MAFWATA : Can you walk us through the curatorial choices for your booth at 1-54 New York this year?
Craig MARK : We went for something fresh—something that might challenge expectations of what “African art” should look like. We’re showing two strong photographers, Mohau MODISAKENG, and Clint STRYDOM, along with Dr. Esther Mahlangu, who is iconic. While she comes from a very traditional background, her work has this bold, pop feel about them that resonates strongly. She's one of the few women of her generation who has reached this level of international acclaim, collaborating with global brands and institutions. She has this iconic type of persona. We're showing her beautifully painted vessels, round forms covered in geometric, abstract patterns we are familiar with designs and we thoughts this would be a very interesting interaction with the younger artists. Alongside that, we’re presenting work by Pascal KONAN from Côte d’Ivoire, who creates on bleached denim, canvas, and uses ink and paint. All the artists we are showing live and work on the continent, and their styles are vastly different yet all works speak about their individual experience lived on the continent. This is the conversation we wanted to build through our curation.
Passage 6, Mohau MODISAKENG, 2017, The Melrose Gallery
Ngalula MAFWATA : Do you see the global interest in African contemporary art as a sustainable, long-term movement?
Craig MARK : Absolutely. By 2030, around 42% of the world’s youth will be in Africa. You can’t ignore a continent that’s home to most of the world's young people, they are going to shape the future. The message coming from the youth in Africa will impact everybody in the whole world. Also we are moving away the narrative of an Africa that is segmented by regions. Today, most artists draw their influences not only from their personal experiences across different parts of the continent, but also from interactions with other artists around the world. Much of the work emerging from Africa carries a unique and powerful energy. More and more people are beginning to connect with it
Ngalula MAFWATA : How do you see artists and actors navigating and influencing the global art scene today?
Craig MARK : There’s a real exchange happening. People like Ernestine White-Mifetu at the Brooklyn Museum, Smooth Nzewi at MoMA, or Koyo Kouoh* curating the Venice Biennale— those are positions of significance. As more and more Africans are appointed to such roles, it’s only natural that demand for art from the continent will continue to grow, along with exposure and interest.
Editor’s note : the interview was arranged on May 6th
“By 2030, around 42% of the world’s youth will be in Africa. You can’t ignore a continent that’s home to most of the world’s young people, they are going to shape the future. ”
Ngalula MAFWATA : Tell us more about your journey, which led you to The Melrose Gallery?
Craig MARK : My late father was one of the first auctioneers in South Africa. I grew up working with him on auctions of South African old masters. When he passed, I continued the business and got to know many artists who wanted representation and support. I really enjoyed that part of the work. I studied modern art but also marketing advertisement, and I’ve always loved the process of building an artist’s profile and getting them to be seen. It naturally led to me to galleries. I ran several over the years before The Melrose Gallery in Johannesburg nine years. It has been going strong for nine years now. We represent a vibrant mix of established and emerging artists from across the continent. We work with the veterans who were born around the 1930’s and the younger artists. This is a really cool patchwork of artists coming from all over the continent.
Ngalula MAFWATA : What upcoming projects or exhibitions are you most excited about?
Craig MARK : Right now, we’re showing Ubuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu, a major body of work by Dr. Esther Mahlangu at the Serpentine North in London. It’s one of the most significant exhibitions for an African artist of her generation, and it’s running for a few more months. erpentine invited her to come and see the work in the next couple of months which we are happy about. We’ve also released limited edition prints of her work, there’s a projection happening on the façade of the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, and of course we have a couple of others art fairs for the Atlanta Art Fair and Scope in Miami. We’re also partnering with Jenkins Johnson Gallery for a solo presentation of Mahlangu’s work at Frieze New York.
Find out more about The Melrose Gallery on their website www.themelrosegallery.com
