• The third edition of ART SG took place from 16 to 19 January 2025 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, bringing together just over 100 galleries from 30 countries. While slightly smaller than its previous editions, the fair projected confidence, striking a balance between international blue-chip names and a growing number of regional players.

    A Leaner but Sharper Edition

    This year’s fair was more compact than the 2023 launch, but many insiders viewed the reduced size as a positive step. With around 105 participating galleries, the layout allowed visitors and collectors to spend more time engaging with each stand. Dealers noted that the atmosphere felt less like a spectacle and more like a marketplace where meaningful conversations and acquisitions could take place.

    Singapore on the Map

    One of the most noticeable shifts was the stronger presence of Singapore-based galleries. More than 20 exhibitors now operate directly in the city — an increase from the inaugural edition. Openings and re-openings, such as Tang Contemporary’s new Singapore outpost and Sullivan+Strumpf’s return, underscore the momentum in the local art ecosystem. Creative hubs like New Bahru also signaled how Singapore is investing in cultural infrastructure beyond the fair itself.

    Collectors and Institutions Step Forward

    Singapore’s high-net-worth community has become increasingly active in the art market, and ART SG 2025 reflected that. Collectors were present in force, and institutional acquisitions added weight: the Singapore Art Museum announced new purchases through its ART SG fund, while private initiatives like the Tanoto Art Foundation showed that philanthropy and collecting are developing side by side.

    Artistic Highlights

    • Gagosian anchored the fair’s international appeal with works by heavyweights such as Carol Bove, Takashi Murakami, and Ed Ruscha.

    • Cuturi Gallery presented Khairulddin Wahab’s installation The Lands Below the Winds, a standout among the local contributions.

    • Young galleries in the Futures section highlighted Southeast Asian talent, giving collectors early access to emerging voices from the region.

    The Regional Context

    Singapore’s positioning as the first major fair of the calendar year gives ART SG an outsized influence. It sets the tone for Asia’s market outlook before Hong Kong’s fairs later in the spring. While Singapore may not yet rival Hong Kong in scale, ART SG is increasingly seen as a gateway to Southeast Asia, a region with growing wealth, institutional ambition, and a desire to be represented on the global stage.

    Looking Ahead

    ART SG 2025 confirmed that the fair is settling into its role: not a mega-fair competing for size, but a curated, regionally anchored event that connects Southeast Asian energy with global networks. For collectors, it is becoming a must-attend stop; for galleries, a calculated bet on a market that is still expanding; and for Singapore, proof that its investment in becoming a cultural hub is paying off.