Today, the Art of Contemporary Africa (AOCA) opens its doors at the Minnesota Street Project in Dogpatch, marking the launch of the city's first Pan-African contemporary art gallery in San Francisco. AOCA is led by Craig Mark and acclaimed South African photographer Clint Strydom, and is dedicated to presenting leading and emerging artists from Africa and the African diaspora.
AOCA is the sister gallery to The Melrose Gallery, a leading Pan-African contemporary gallery based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Building on its established program, AOCA extends this vision to the United States, creating a long-term platform for African artists to engage American audiences through sustained exhibitions, dialogue, and exchange.
AOCA globally represents Dr. Esther Mahlangu, one of the most significant living artists from the African continent. The gallery's program also includes acclaimed artists such as Ayanda Mabulu, Aza Mansongi, Noria Mabasa, Willie Bester, Edozie Anedu, Souleymane Konaté, Mwass Githinji, Clint Strydom, Samuel Allerton, Carol Cauldwell, Médéric Turay, Denis Mubiru, Marcelle Tchopwe, Gavin Rain, André Stead, Mark Chapman, Pascal Konan, Papytsho Mafolo, Knox Clayton and Vusi Beauchamp, among others.
Working across painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and mixed media, AOCA's artists span generations and geographies, reflecting the diversity and complexity of contemporary African artistic practice. Many of these artists, including Mahlangu, will be featured in the gallery's first exhibit, Afropop. Spanning generations and geographies, the exhibition foregrounds artistic practices that are grounded in lived experience while actively engaging in global contemporary discourse. With its inaugural exhibition, AOCA asserts Africa not as a peripheral site of artistic production, but as a central and active contributor to global contemporary art.
Speakers at Afropop include:
- Azu Nwagbogu
- Alistair Munroe
- Unity Lewis
Rather than proposing a singular narrative, Afropop embraces multiplicity, much like the continent of Africa. The exhibition understands “pop” not as superficiality, but as circulation, accessibility, and cultural vitality, highlighting practices that are materially inventive, conceptually rigorous, and visually compelling.
The decision to open in San Francisco reflects both strategic and cultural alignment. Gallery Director Craig Mark, who has been based in the city for the past two years, cites a strong affinity between San Francisco and South Africa. The presence of institutions such as the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and initiatives like the Nexus Black Arts Festival further position the Bay Area as a meaningful context for AOCA's mission.
“In South Africa, we embrace ubuntu, meaning 'I am because you are.' It celebrates the spirit of our shared humanity, connectedness, and collective responsibility. San Francisco practices that spirit every day, and it's a big reason why we made this city our home,” shared Craig Mark, Gallery Director. “There's an interconnectedness between South Africa and San Francisco that can't be denied, and I'm honored to represent and share that spirit at the Art of Contemporary Africa.”
AOCA's opening follows years of engagement with American audiences through participation in major US art fairs, including Expo Chicago, 1-54 New York, Seattle Art Fair, and Atlanta Art Fair, where interest in pan-African contemporary art has been consistently strong.
AOCA will celebrate its opening and first exhibition tonight, Thursday, February 12th, 2026, with a welcome party from 6:30-9:30pm. To join, RSVP at: rsvp@aocaart.com.
To learn more about AOCA, visit aocaart.com or see the gallery in person at the Minnesota Street Project in Dogpatch: 1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA.
About Art of Contemporary Africa
Founded by gallerist Craig Mark and artist Clint Strydom in 2026, Art of Contemporary Africa (AOCA) is the first Pan-African art gallery in San Francisco. A sister gallery to The Melrose Gallery, a leading pan-African contemporary gallery based in Johannesburg, South Africa, AOCA showcases artists from across the African continent, celebrating artists working across painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and mixed media. Learn more about AOCA, visit aocaart.com or visit the gallery in-person at the Minnesota Street Project in Dogpatch: 1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA.
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