Get ready to dive into the nooks and crannies of Singapore's art scene
Photograph: Whitestone Gallery | Whitestone Gallery
With the city's top museums dominating itineraries, it’s easy to forget about the smaller, offbeat gems. It's time to open your mind and dive into the world of contemporary art at these under-the-radar galleries. Hang out with the cool, artsy cats at these alternative galleries in Singapore and who knows, you might just find your new favourite artist.
Whitestone Gallery, all the way from the vibrant streets of Tokyo, has descended upon Tanjong Pagar District Park (TPD) in Singapore, marking its sixth and latest home. It is also the largest, boasting a space of 20,000 square feet and ceilings 5 metres in height. With a history dating back to 1967, this illustrious establishment proudly wears the crown of being the pioneer in the realm of Japanese art. Their contemporary art galleries include Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Seoul, and now, Singapore.
STPI is part of the Visual Arts Cluster, alongside other leading institutions such as National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum. At this non-profit contemporary gallery, you can find regular artist collaboration programmes and creative workshops. What’s special about STPI is its very own creative production workshop run by professional printmakers that pushes the boundaries of various print and papermaking techniques, focusing on artistic experimentation in the medium of print and paper.
Contemporary paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, prints… whatever it is, Mizuma Gallery has it all. Established in 1994 in Tokyo and 2012 in Singapore by Mizuma Sueo, the gallery provides a space for emerging Japanese artists and Southeast Asian talents to showcase their works.
Here’s a gallery that throws the spotlight on contemporary art by established artists from Southeast Asia. The gallery also offers regular exhibition tours and dialogue sessions with its local and regional curators.
A 15 year old home for contemporary art is housed here, a space located near City Hall that showcases several respected and established artists such as Mao Lizi, King Hyung Koo, Ken Mihara and Singapore’s pioneering ceramicist, Dr Iskander Jalil. The gallery also works with corporate firms on cultivating their art collections, as well as interior designers to determine the best works for their projects.
Cuturi Gallery is housed in a beautiful conservation shophouse in the ethnic enclave of Kampong Gelam in the bigger Bugis area. The gallery space echoies its starting grounds on Scotts road, with streamlined and minimalistic interiors that don't take away from the main highlight: the artworks themselves. The gallery is known for its artist residencies and has an eye for picking out emerging local talent such as Vanessa Liem and Shen Jiaqi, and also represents international artists like Vincet Fournier and Louis Granet.
Founded in 2001, Redsea Gallery is one of Singapore’s leading contemporary art galleries located within the charming enclaves of Dempsey Hill. It has firmly established its reputation, both locally and in the wider Asian art market, as an institution that represents a highly exclusive and international selection of well-respected and emerging artists.
Established in both Singapore and Sydney, Yavuz Gallery represents a diverse group of artists, finding itself as one of the leading galleries in Asia focusing on contemporary art. Exhibitions do not possess a stylistic trend, but are eclectic with an element of surprise. To date, they have participated in several notable art fairs like Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Dubai, Art Fair Philippines, Art Basel Miami Beach, Melbourne Art Fair, and many more.
A far cry from the mundane, UltraSuperNew Gallery is anything but boring. Championing interactive experience art and creativity, the gallery hosts quirky exhibitions and bold pop-ups that are bound to pique your interest. The gallery has recently moved into its new home in Jalan Besar – so discover the neighbourhood while
Nestled in the Spottiswoode neighbourhood in a beautiful Peranakan shophouse, Art Porters Gallery shines the spotlight on contemporary art in the region. Founders Guillaume Levy-Lambert and Sean Soh are strong advocates for emerging artists from Southeast Asia. Works presented include drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and digital animation.
A collaborative effort between Jordi Barnadas, the founder and owner of Galeria Jordi Barnadas in Spain, and his Singapore partners, Abigail Wong and Benjaming Ng, this new gallery offers both seasoned and young art collectors in Southeast Asia contemporary European art that is specially curated and tailored for the region.
Think bold, and Art Now comes to mind – a state-of-the-art gallery space, lifestyle retail store, furnishing space and members' lounge all jam packed into one at the Raffles Arcade. The interior of the sophisticated gallery space was the brainchild of Milan and London based design practice Studio Milo. Inside, classical art masterpieces sit alongside contemporary furniture by Manfredi Style, as well as a curated selection of object d arts, accessories, ready to wear and other fine curios that are unique to the space.
Located in the heart of Tiong Bahru, the contemporary art gallery situated on the first floor of Asia Square Tower 1 injects life and colour both literally and figuratively to the trendy neighbourhood. Hatch Art Project prides itself in being a platform for emerging artists from the region through its various forms of exhibitions. Discover their wide offering of visual art mediums such as video, installation, sculptures, NFTs, and paintings.
Yeo Workshop is a project space that takes on a multi-disciplinary approach via its exhibitions, artist projects, and gallery-based programmes such as talks, symposiums and guided research. Priding itself on progressive engagement, you can find a diverse range of contemporary artists across different mediums and backgrounds sparking dialogues on current day issues.
With its locations in Hong Kong, Beijing, and the newest addition in Singapore (inaugurated in January 2023), is recognised as a significant presence in the art scene of the region. The gallery plays a pivotal role by introducing and fostering connections among diverse art communities globally, offering a comprehensive perspective on the practices of highly intriguing contemporary artists. Bringing the first exhibition of a Hong Kong architect/artist to Singapore aligns with WOAW Gallery's mission to strengthen the bonds between art hubs throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Where arts meet fashion, luxury and business. Yang Gallery was founded in 2005, and has since represented several established regional and global artists. With many years of experience, the gallery strikes the perfect balance between art appreciation and the business behind art collecting. The huge space houses old paintings, sculptures, ceramics, paintings, installations, photographs, furniture, prints, toys and more.
Feast your eyes on a wealth of sculptures and paintings by acclaimed modern artists including Manolo Valdés, André Brasilier and Fernando Botero at Opera Gallery. What goes on display is carefully curated by its collectors and if you’re looking to bag one, simply ask one of the staff – but be warned, they all come with a hefty price tag.
If you’re into traditional mediums of art, then Artcommune is one to look out for. Dedicated to growing Singapore’s art scene, this gallery centres around nurturing and supporting local artists. Follow them on Instagram to keep up with their regular showcases of pioneering masters to current leading ones.
First opened in Rome, Mucciaccia Gallery is based in many other cities around the world – London, New York and Cortina. In 2012, the gallery found itself in Singapore, tucked away in the green district of Gillman Barracks. It is now an established common ground where creatives and collectors alike come together in the name of art.
Best known for being a shopping haven, one might overlook the space located on the fourth level of ION Orchard. The mall-integrated gallery focuses on showcasing a diverse range of visual arts such as photography, digital art, paintings, and more. Focusing on both emerging and established Singaporean and other Asian artists and designers, ION Art has notably showcased the works of local photographer Nguan, and also ran a Southeast Asian contemporary art show consisting of 16 different artists.
It’s almost impossible to miss Objectifs – a standalone yellow house along Waterloo Street dedicated to the visual arts. The gallery presents a year-round programme of exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks, and more, aiming to advance the practice and appreciation of film and photography. This establishment also spearheads Objectif Films in partnership with Infinite Frameworks and Shooting Gallery Asia. Together, they distribute the largest number of short films in Southeast Asia and represent award-winning short films from our region.
Art lovers, this is your hint to look beyond the exterior of Excelsior Shopping Centre. Hidden at the basement is a small shopfront unit home to I_s_l_a_n_d_s, an experimental platform that encourages artists to reconsider the boundaries of their practise by testing novel concepts and alternative means of exhibition-making.
If you’re yearning for a fresh take on art indulgence, we recommend Starch. This artist-run gallery is a ground-up space for experimentation, conversations and re-orientations. The space seeks to support creative practitioners from all walks of life by providing a platform to showcase their art and hold dialogues around them. From presenting prize-winning works by LASALLE Alumnis to hosting a communal space that promotes wellness – there is definitely something for everyone.
Artist Jason Wee flew his New York coop in 2008 and turned his apartment opposite the hulking Great World City into an intimate gallery, hoping to add fuel to the alternative scene by providing space for international and local artists, as well as aspiring curators. Today, Grey Projects has found a home in hipster enclave Tiong Bahru, serving as an all-in-one destination – merging a library, residency apartment, studio and two galleries. These spaces work hand in hand to present talks, residencies, reading groups and workshops.
A breathing space between commas – Comma Space is an experimental artist-run hub tucked away in Jalan Pemimpin. Encouraging creativity and criticism, the space brings together people from different backgrounds. You’ll be able to find art and curated exhibitions that support contemporary artists locally, regionally and internationally.
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