Presented by ACEL Art Company, Africa Rising: Highlights from the Africa First Collection, by Serge Tiroche brings together 21 works by 16 contemporary African artists from the Africa First Collection, established by Israeli collector Serge Tiroche over the past decade.

Launched during the 2025 Frieze Seoul season, ACEL Art Company is a global art platform dedicated to exhibitions, networking, and advisory services, connecting international galleries, collectors, and cultural partners with Korea and the wider Asian art market.

The exhibition highlights the growing presence of contemporary African art within the global art scene. Through painting, textile, mixed media, collage, drawing, and printmaking, the participating artists explore themes such as memory, identity, migration, community, gender, healing, and colonial history.

Featured artists include Ephrem Solomon, whose works intersect social and political realities with personal narratives; Kutlo Mabua, whose pointillist portraits examine identity and belonging; and Option Nyahunzvi, whose layered compositions address memory, movement, and community.

Rather than presenting Africa as a distant or singular image, Africa Rising offers a layered view of contemporary African art as a vital, complex, and active part of our shared global present.

  • Kutlo Mabua, Strangers, TO THE DANCE FLOOR, 2021
    Kutlo Mabua
    1992
    Strangers, TO THE DANCE FLOOR, 2021
    Aluminum foil, ink, colored pencil and thread on Fabriano
    96 x 65.5 cm
    $ 4,500.00
  • Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi, Pamutambo, 2019
    Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi
    1992
    Pamutambo, 2019
    Acrylic and paper etching חס Fabriano paper
    190 x 150 cm
    $ 14,000.00
  • Ephrem Solomon, Silence Series 25, 2017
    Ephrem Solomon
    1983
    Silence Series 25, 2017
    Woodcut , collage and mixed media
    80 x 80 cm
    $ 15,000.00
  • Misheck Masamvu, Knuckle Bones, 2018
    Misheck Masamvu
    1989
    Knuckle Bones, 2018
    Oil on Canvas
    149.1 x 132.08 cm
    Unique
    $ 60,000.00
  • Phumulani Ntuli, Camouflage II, 2021
    Phumulani Ntuli
    1986
    Camouflage II, 2021
    Mixed media collage, paper transfer and acrylic on canvas
    90 x 71.4 cm
    $ 8,000.00
  • Kutlo Mabua, You & I, 2021
    Kutlo Mabua
    1992
    You & I, 2021
    Aluminum foil, ink, colored pencil and thread on Fabriano
    67 x 96 cm
    $ 4,500.00
  • Kimathi Mafafo, Cradlesome, 2021
    Kimathi Mafafo
    1984
    Cradlesome, 2021
    Machine and hand stitching on fabric
    135 x 95 cm
    $ 12,000.00
  • Prudence Chimutuwah, POMBONOKA, 2022
    Prudence Chimutuwah
    1989
    POMBONOKA, 2022
    Mixed media collage on canvas
    150 x 100 cm
    $ 7,500.00
  • Abongile Sidzumo, Kumnandi Ekapa, 2022
    Abongile Sidzumo
    1996
    Kumnandi Ekapa, 2022
    Leather, thread, and dye
    98 x 78 cm
    $ 4,000.00
  • Mfundo Mthiyane, Ujikanelanga, 2023
    Mfundo Mthiyane
    1991
    Ujikanelanga, 2023
    Oil on Canvas
    150 x 170 cm
    $ 7,000.00
  • Daniel Gyekyi Gyan, Prestige Lady, 2021
    Daniel Gyekyi Gyan
    1992
    Prestige Lady, 2021
    Acrylic and modeling paste on canvas
    124 x 100 cm
    $ 3,500.00
  • Thokozani Madonsela, What Stage are we on?, 2023
    Thokozani Madonsela
    1988
    What Stage are we on?, 2023
    Acrylics on canvas
    128 x 169 cm
    $ 6,000.00
  • Tafadzwa Tega, Sister Rose, 2021
    Tafadzwa Tega
    1985
    Sister Rose, 2021
    Acrylic on canvas
    110 x 110 cm
    $ 12,000.00
  • Feni Chulumanco, The Clothing Bag, 2021-2
    Feni Chulumanco
    1994
    The Clothing Bag, 2021-2
    Acrylic On Canvas
    80 x 100 cm
    $ 4,000.00
  • Treasure Mlima, Inheriting Identities II, 2024
    Treasure Mlima
    1999
    Inheriting Identities II, 2024
    3mm Supawood carving, Oil-based ink and Acrylic paint
    30 x 30 cm
    $ 1,000.00
  • Treasure Mlima, Inheriting Identities IV, 2024
    Treasure Mlima
    1999
    Inheriting Identities IV, 2024
    3mm Supawood carving, Oil-based ink and Acrylic paint
    30 x 30 cm
    $ 1,000.00
  • Tafadzwa Masudi, God is a woman, 2021
    Tafadzwa Masudi
    1988
    God is a woman, 2021
    Acrylics on Canvas
    120 x 120 cm
    $ 10,000.00
  • Tafadzwa Masudi, Slow and steady doesn’t win the race, 2022
    Tafadzwa Masudi
    1988
    Slow and steady doesn’t win the race, 2022
    Acrylic paint on canvas
    110 x 80 cm
    $ 7,500.00
  • Collin Sekajugo, Haute couture, 2023
    Collin Sekajugo
    1980
    Haute couture, 2023
    Barkcloth, polypropelyne and acrylics on denim
    142 x 92 cm
    $ 15,000.00
  • Collin Sekajugo, Omussufu Musuuza, 2023
    Collin Sekajugo
    1980
    Omussufu Musuuza, 2023
    Barkcloth, polypropelyne and acrylics on denim
    141 x 92 cm
    $ 15,000.00