The Best Street Style From the Contemporary African Art Fair
Sefa Gohoho at the Contemporary African Arts Fair.
Photo: Melodie Jeng
New York City’s Contemporary African Arts Fair is five years old, but this past weekend marked its debut in Manhattan. Galleries around the West Village reverberated with a mix of French and English as artists and art-lovers from the five boroughs to Morocco examined the works. There were metal portraits, African textiles, a blown-up portrait of Cardi B. And of course, there was a huge range of personal style. Below, the Cut talks to some of the best-dressed attendees about the one creative skill they wish they had.


Deborah Bernard: "I'd like to be a painter. I want to leave something that lives forever." Photo: Melodie Jeng

Mouna Traore: "To translate pure emotion using whatever medium I choose." Hannah Traore: "To make what's is in my head with any materia...
Mouna Traore: "To translate pure emotion using whatever medium I choose." Hannah Traore: "To make what's is in my head with any material." Photo: Melodie Jeng/Melodie Jeng

Giani Lee: "Patience. I think if I take more time I might make better work." Photo: Melodie Jeng

Emilie Demon: "I would have loved to film direct." Photo: Melodie Jeng

Christian Sulger-Buel: "Being able to paint. I’m a dealer in African art. I know how to choose, I appreciate it, but I'm not able to do it."...
Christian Sulger-Buel: "Being able to paint. I’m a dealer in African art. I know how to choose, I appreciate it, but I'm not able to do it." Photo: Melodie Jeng

Melody Downes: "I would love to sew because then I can create some fashions for myself and my daughter." Camille Downes: “I can’t pick becau...
Melody Downes: "I would love to sew because then I can create some fashions for myself and my daughter." Camille Downes: “I can’t pick because I can do all those things already.” Photo: Melodie Jeng

Mieyoshi Moore: "To know how to sculpt in marble." Photo: Melodie Jeng

Chris Richards: "To know how to weave, because I study West African textiles." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Charlotte Ashamu: "I would like to knit because I like the intricacy of the patterns you can develop." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Amy Langseth: "African tribal art — that’s got my eyes and my heart." Henri Univers: "I'd like to be a pianist. I love the sound ... it...
Amy Langseth: "African tribal art — that’s got my eyes and my heart." Henri Univers: "I'd like to be a pianist. I love the sound ... it’s like a bird." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Annalisa Acreskybn: "To be an illustrator because there’s not enough women like me in imagery illustration." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Terri Thrash: "Photography. The camera releases images the average eye may not see." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Michelene Auguste: "Painting." Jordan Sullivan: "I would definitely be a singer." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Rebecca Moses: "I’d like to sculpt my women, or maybe that’s my next goal in life." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Yukari Niikura: "Dancing because I’m so bad." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Vicki Monteiro: "I would like to paint with flowers." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Jamel Robinson: "Sculpting because I haven’t perfected it yet." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Camelia Chorsi: "I guess the real artistic skill is always creating a connection." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Aaron Ramey: "Working with steel." Photo: Melodie Jeng
Lamia Zemmouri: "Sculpting." Photo: Melodie Jeng
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