Art SG: What We Know About Asia's First Big Art Event of 2025
It's touted to be the leading international art fair for Singapore and Southeast Asia.
(SPOT.ph) February is the busiest month in art in Manila, being officially arts month and two big art fairs take over the city’s social calendars. But just before that, artists, gallerists, collectors and serious art watchers make their way to the Lion City for Singapore Art Week, SG’s annual celebration of the visual arts. It's among the biggest art affairs in the region. And it's when the social media feeds of Manila’s affluent brim with paintings, sculptures, and party pictures—with a snap of a laksa bowl or plate of chili crab in between.
This coming January will be no different. Art SG, touted to be the leading international art fair for Singapore and Southeast Asia, will be having its third edition from January 17 to 19, with a VIP Preview and Vernissage on the 16th at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.
International galleries to watch out for in Art SG:
It’s expected to showcase a wealth of contemporary art from an impressive lineup of exhibitors hailing from different countries and territories—among them boldface names like Gagosian (New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Le Bourget, Geneva, Basel, Gstaad, Rome, Athens, Hong Kong), White Cube (London, New York, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul), Thaddaeus Ropac (London, Paris, Salzburg, Seoul), and Lehmann Maupin (New York, London, Seoul).
These galleries are also returning to the fair after a one-year hiatus, which is seen to be a testament to their conviction in Singapore’s market environment and its ability to attract a flourishing collector base.
Art SG puts the spotlight on Singapore as a fast-rising cultural capital and a key hub for artistic exchange and transformation across Southeast Asia and beyond. This year’s event marks a special occasion because the country is also celebrating its 60th anniversary of independence. “Over the past six decades, Singapore’s arts landscape has flourished,” says Magnus Renfrew, Art SG co-founder. “Singapore, situated at the heart of Asia, is a key destination for galleries aiming to broaden their reach. With its strategic location, role as a regional hub, and dedication to cultivating a multi-faceted art scene, the city serves as a gateway to this expanding art market.”
Special featured events
Four visionary cultural partners with strong ties to the Southeast Asian art ecosystem: Bangkok Kunsthalle, Delfina Foundation, M Art Foundation and Art Outreach form a huge part of this year’s program of events. For starters, in collaboration with Bangkok Kunsthalle, director Stefano Rabolli Pansera will curate a selection of film, video art and moving image artworks, with an emphasis on showcasing new film-making practices, experimental film, or works with historically art-resonant works, particularly by artists and practitioners from around the Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific regions.
Meanwhile, London’s Delfina Foundation will collaborate with ART SG to create a series of programmes around collecting, philanthropy and creating private foundations. Inspired by the foundation’s groundbreaking programme ‘Collecting as Practice’ which explores the philosophy, psychology and politics of collecting, the collaboration to be presented at ART SG 2025 will look at the essential role of collectors in shaping artistic regional development.
“Into the 13th edition of Singapore Art Week (SAW), we celebrate and showcase Singapore’s maturing arts landscape with the local and international arts community and audiences from all walks of life,” says Tay Tong, Director, Arts Ecosystem Group (Visual Arts), National Arts Council. “ART SG remains a marquee event for [Singapore Art Week] in showcasing contemporary art from top international galleries and attracting a diverse range of global collectors. This vibrant fair facilitates connections between artists, galleries and collectors. ART SG is a catalyst for transforming Singapore into a global art destination, bridging diverse artistic expressions and engaging collectors in meaningful ways.”
Notable galleries hailing from Asia will also return to the fair including Ames Yavuz (Singapore, Sydney), STPI (Singapore), Sullivan+Strumpf (Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne), Richard Koh Fine Art (Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur), FOST GALLERY (Singapore), and Gajah Gallery (Singapore, Jakarta, Yogyakarta). These are in addition to newcomers Haridas Contemporary (Singapore), Baik Art (Los Angeles, Seoul, Jakarta), Highlight Art (Singapore), BOL Gallery (Singapore), and SUN CONTEMPORARY (Bali).
Here are the important dates for this January’s Art SG:
VIP PREVIEW
Thursday, 16 January | 2pm – 5pm
VERNISSAGE
Thursday, 16 January | 5pm–9pm
GENERAL ADMISSION
Friday, 17 January | 12pm – 7pm
Saturday, 18 January | 11am – 7pm
Sunday, 19 January | 11am – 5pm
For more information about ART SG, visit their website (artsg.com), Instagram (@art.sg) and Facebook (artsgfair). Tickets to ART SG are available online via artsg.com/tickets. For more information about the Singapore Art Week, visit artweek.sg and its social media pages.