During the Zona Maco art fair and art week in Mexico City (Feb. 8-12), a new gallery by the internationally recognized Mariane Ibrahim opened its doors in Colonia Renacimiento with the aim of exploring the work of Afro-Mexican artists.

Ibrahim is a Somali-French art dealer who has galleries in Paris and Chicago. Her focus is on promoting and making visible African and Afro-descendant art. She also looks to create synergies and opportunities for those who face challenges in the art world, particularly due to racial discrimination. 

“Mexicans who visit us will see something they don’t normally see. I don’t think they are very exposed to the work of African artists, and we actually have a lot in common,” Mariane Ibrahim said in an interview with El Universal newspaper.

The Mexican gallery will function differently from her others, as it will be a “laboratory” with longer-lasting shows that will also include a public program. 

In an interview with Vogue magazine, the artist said she seeks to connect with the Afro-Mexican community while exploring the role Veracruz played in the emancipation of the Black community in Mexico. “[…] there is a story I want to reveal that hasn’t been told at all, or not presented in the right way,” she told Vogue. 

As to why she chose Mexico to open her third gallery, Ibrahim told Vogue that she thinks “Mexico City has an energy of the future—in music, in art, with architecture, design, and fashion,” calling it a “vital place.” 

With reports from Vogue and El Universal