October Gallery, London, is pleased to participate in the debut edition of Africa Basel, 2025, with a presentation of striking works by international artists James Barnor, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Alexis Peskine, Zana Masombuka, LR Vandy, Owusu-Ankomah and Xanthe Somers. The presentation comprises painting, sculpture, photography and vibrant ceramic works.

Highlights include selected photographic works by renowned photographer James Barnor (HonsFRPS), whose masterful career has spanned more than six decades. Barnor’s wide- ranging portraits such as AGIP Calendar Model, 1974, depict the self-assurance and individualistic fashion trends that thrived both in London and Accra over time. His photographs of a newly-Independent Ghana and London are now recognised as an unparalleled, historic documentation.

Recent paintings by Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga reflect the artist’s investigation into the seismic shifts in the economic, political and social identity of the Democratic Republic of Congo, that have taken place since colonialism. A vivid painting, Ces êtres à part (Those Other People), 2024, portrays the cost in human life that our demands for modern technology impose upon the unseen victims caught up in the consequences of industrial scale mining for coltan in the DRC.

Large-scale mixed media ‘portraits’ are presented by Alexis Peskine. These dynamic pieces are rendered by hammering nails of different gauge, embellished with gold, Japanese oxidised silver or palladium leaf, with pin-point accuracy, into wood to create remarkable composite images. The individual figures he portrays represent the diversity of the African diaspora. By layering colours and materials, such as hibiscus, Peskine creates a complex visual narrative charged with the echoes of centuries of exploitation.

On show are signature photographic works by Zana Masombuka. In the series Nges’rhodlweni: A Portal for Black Joy, Masombuka imagines what happens in the spirit world when ceremonies and rituals take place, creating a body of images which are rich with layers of meaning and symbolism. Nges’rhodlweni refers to a space within the Ndebele household where people of all ages gather to share in the communion of art, and to create an expression for the entire community. The overarching themes in Masombuka’s captivating works explore how modernity impacts tradition and culture.

LR Vandy is represented by sculptural work. Her practice is based on the transformation of found objects, metal components and rope into a variety of artworks, from vibrant works made from model boat hulls to energetic sculptures that investigate the knotted histories of trade, power and gender. Bright, 2019, will be displayed from her signature Hull series. Vandy has an aptitude for elegantly revealing hidden histories; her works continually reference the multi-layered history and heritage of the African diaspora.

Other highlights include a ceramic artwork by Xanthe Somers whose practice is informed by post-colonial contexts, with reference to Zimbabwe, her country of birth. Somers’ intricate artworks are hand-coiled in traditional fashion before being disturbed by having their surfaces punctured, woven or enhanced with meticulously painted details. By knowingly combining excessive ornamentation with veiled political commentary, Somers draws attention to women's work, exploitation of cheap labour and the impact of eco-racist practices throughout the Global South.

Owusu-Ankomah’s distinctive paintings depict an alternate world wherein monumental human figures float and shift within an ocean of emblems that surround, support, and in fact, define them. Microcron - Kusum No.5, 2011, is a hypnotic lexicon of adinkra symbols, each representing a particular concept used by the Akan-speaking peoples of Ghana. In the same Akan language ‘kusum’ refers to sacred sites involved in the secret performances of mystery rites. The process by which these figures coexist and interact with various iconic and symbolic sets has developed through distinct phases over time, reflecting Owusu-Ankomah’s own journey of discovery.