About Us
Calabar Gallery showcases contemporary African Artists and African Diaspora artists globally. Curated by Atim Annette Oton, each artist selected has work that deals with the complexities of the African experience. Based in New York City, work featured is inspired and influenced by black African culture globally with a focus on dynamic ideas about art and society. Work will include: paintings, sculptures, watercolors, drawings, pastels, prints, photographs, mixed-media works and installations.
Calabar Gallery represents underserved artists locally and globally: African, African American and Caribbean artists, with the mission of providing a place for community, exhibition, creative initiatives and projects. It provides a venue for them to innovate, sustain, grow and expand ideas, concepts, projects and leverage opportunities by the use of our space, networks and relationships, and a distinctive location in New York City.
Calabar features artists and art projects that instigate dialogue, build communities, bolster local and global economies, and further social innovation. We also seek underserved artists who are using technology and the internet to create, exhibit, showcase and sell work locally, regionally and globally.
Leadership
Our Founder
Atim Annette Oton is a Nigerian-born, American and British educated designer turned art curator who grew up in Nigeria with her mother collecting and buying contemporary art.
Past Decade
She is the Curator and founder of Harlem based Calabar Gallery. She is the African Art Curator for Amref Health Africa ArtBall for the past 4 years which honored Wangechi Mutu, El Anatsui, Toyin Ojih Odutola and Zanele Muholi.
Community Engagements
She is the curator for the Jersey City Theater Center and was the Curator for Community Engagement for the Bronx:Africa exhibition at Longwood Gallery.
Contemporary African Art Focus
In 2016, she launched Calabar Gallery in Harlem to focus on contemporary African Artists and African Diaspora artists globally whose work is inspired and influenced by black and global African culture globally investigating dynamic ideas about art, culture and society.
