Gallery ILÉ is pleased to announce its upcoming participation in the 39th edition of PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ leading fair for fine art, antiques, and design, which will take place from Sunday 1 through Sunday 8 November 2026, at the RAI Amsterdam.

Located at Stand 23, of the iconic Walls & Cabinets section, Gallery ILÉ will present an ambitious group exhibition titled:

THE BEACH IS IN THE FOREST

Curated specifically for the fair, the presentation unfolding across 27m2, explores complex thematic that investigates notions of memory preservation, historical erasure, identity, spirituality, within Afro-diasporic realms, through the mediums of painting, sculpture, and photography.

The exhibition features an impressive roster of trailblazing contemporary African artists and world-renowned modern masters, including:

Dominique Zinkpè

The preeminent Beninese pioneer will showcase his interstellar IBEJÌ sculptures and paintings that pay homage to ancestral Yoruba and Vodun rites, with a riveting surrealist quality, informed by the rich historical and cultural traditions of his native land.

  Between Worlds                                                                        Human Consciousness

Gérard Quenum

The West African modern master will exhibit a series of mesmerising, minimalistic canvases that interrogate notions of humanism, societal conundrums, and resilience against historical structures of power.

The Couple | Her                                                   Child Play 

Nicola Lo Calzo

The Paris based, Italian born critically acclaimed photographer and PhD researcher will present his compelling AGOUDAS and NEGO FUGIDO  visual chronicles, exploring how Afro-Carrabian communities preserve or reclaim cultural memory in the face of marginalization and historical erasure, as well as issues surrounding postcolonial perspectives and queer identity.

Mito Daho Kpassènon                                        Comfort With The Godonou

Eddy Ochieng

The Nairobi-based award winning hyperrealism will showcase his latest body of work, which brings intimate human stories to life through awe inspiring oil-on-canvases that explore the emotional and psychological depths of the human experience, rendering dignity, and vulnerability with extraordinary precision.

Quiet Certainty                                                        A Familiar Stranger

Nathanaël Vodouhè

Known for his otherworldly material interventions, the fast emerging Wunderkind will present his powerful burnt wood sculptural works that bring into play polarizing emotions and challenge social constructs and cultural paradigms. 

Cosmogenesis

Wabi Dossou

"We are thrilled to bring 'The Beach Is In The Forest' to PAN Amsterdam this November," says Gallery ILÉ's founder, Joyce Bidouzo. "This exhibition opens an uncharted pathway, where memory, land, and systemic historical narratives collide. We hope this show offers our audience, with an immersive window into a deeply compelling dialogue on contemporary African creation and Afro-diasporic worlds."

ABOUT GALLERY ILÉ

Gallery ILÉ is dedicated to championing the careers of artists whose practices are redefining contemporary African art. Focusing on painting, sculpture, and photography, the gallery fosters international dialogue by presenting exceptional, groundbreaking works to global audiences.

FAIR INFORMATION

• Location: RAI Amsterdam, Hall 8, Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam
• Dates: 1 November – 8 November 2026
• Booth: Stand 23

MEDIA CONTACT

• Joyce Bidouzo | Founding Director
• contact@ileworldwide.com
• www.ileworldwide.com
• Images: High-resolution press images are available upon request.