Asia plays host to several renowned art fairs that have achieved significant success in the global art market that attract galleries, collectors and artists from around the world, cementing their positions as key cultural and commercial events. Cases in point are Art Basel Hong Kong, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the world due to strong participation from top-tier galleries, as well as Taipei Dangdai, known as a hub for Taiwan’s highly sophisticated and committed collector base.
Back in January 2023, the founding director of the former and co-founder of the latter, Magnus Renfrew, brought his talents to Singapore, where ART SG was launched, along with co-founders Tim Etchells and Johan Pijnappel. In 2024, ART SG attracted a record 45,300 visitors over four days and it has quickly established itself as the leading art fair in Southeast Asia.
In 2025, ART SG returns for its third edition at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, from 17 to 19 January 2025 (with a VIP Preview and Vernissage on 16 January), with a stellar line-up of 106 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories.
Art aficionados can look forward to the participation of international and regional art galleries, alongside a curated programme of large-scale installations, experimental film and moving images, thought-provoking panel discussions, and performances. ART SG will also welcome the participation of leading international galleries offering diverse, multi-artist exhibitions, including Gagosian (which has presented exhibitions of artists such as Claude Monet and Andy Warhol), White Cube, and Richard Koh Fine Art (with participating Malaysian artists such as Justin Lim and Yeoh Choo Kuan).
Robb Report Malaysia speaks to Renfrew, who has been instrumental in shaping the visual art landscape across Asia and has been recognised as one of the 100 most influential figures in the art world, to find out more about ART SG.
ART SG is now in its third edition. How has the fair grown since its inception?
We see the role of the fair as really being a hub for the Asia-Pacific region. That’s very much reflected in the diversity of the work that’s on view, where we have a really strong representation of art from across Southeast Asia, but also some incredible blue-chip galleries that are participating from Europe and the United States. We see the role of the fair as a means of continuing to provide a two-way dialogue and to put art from Southeast Asia into a global context.
As Southeast Asia grows into an art hub, how can new artists and collectors actively participate in and benefit from platforms like ART SG?
My strong recommendation would be for artists to find gallery representation to participate directly as exhibitors in the show. Additionally, ART SG is like a contemporary art museum that brings together such an incredible array of art that is an amazing learning resource for artists, as well as a commercial event whereby it’s driven by the sales to collectors. On top of that, something to give collectors confidence is that we have a selection committee of gallerists from around Asia and further afield, who have looked at every single application and only the best galleries have gotten in.
With such an impressive line-up for 2025, what diverse tales and artistic insights are you hoping that these exhibitors will add to the global art discourse?
We truly want to provide a platform for artists from Southeast Asia to be able to showcase their work to an international audience of galleries, collectors and curators. But we also have interesting insights from international galleries that are participating from the west. For example, new participating galleries this year include Galerie Gmurzynska, with a solo presentation of the renowned Cuban artist of Chinese heritage Wifredo Lam. To have that work shown in the context of Southeast Asia, with its diverse and historically itinerant and immigrant populations, is fascinating. That particular context may give people a different vantage point on an artist, who has already had a fairly wide exposure internationally.
Could you elaborate on the importance of collaborating with cultural partners such as Bangkok Kunsthalle and Delfina Foundation?
It’s been incredible to be working with Bangkok Kunsthalle, who are running our film programme and have an exciting institution that’s emerging in Thailand. Additionally, we are teaming up with the Delfina Foundation, who have an exceptional residency in the United Kingdom. Typically, there are artist residencies or curatorial residencies, but Delfina has a residency for collectors as part of their programme, which is wonderful. As we’re trying to develop new collectors and discuss the practice of collecting, their input on some elements of programming related to collecting is truly beneficial.
ART SG’s Dates & Times
VIP Preview (By Invitation Only)
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
Tickets for the fair are now on sale and can be purchased at artsg.com/tickets.
Lead cover image: Libby Heaney, Q is for Climate, 2023. Installation ‘Energeia’, Etiopia, Zaragoza Courtesy of Gazelli Art House & the Artist. Photo by Pedro Anguila.
