As Art SG 2025 draws to a close today at Marina Bay Sands, it leaves behind an indelible mark on the contemporary art world. Taking place from January 17 to 19, this year’s edition firmly established Singapore as the gateway to Southeast Asia’s dynamic and flourishing art market. With its strategic location, growing community of new collectors, and robust institutional support by UBS, Art SG in its early days is proving to be a global platform for art enthusiasts, collectors and gallerists alike.
Mid-market transactions globally, ranging between USD 5,000 and USD 50,000, represented 6% of total sales, demonstrating steady growth in this segment. However, the high-end market saw a 21% contraction, with only 224 transactions above USD 50,000, compared to 372 in previous years. Despite this dip, Singapore’s art market remains resilient, buoyed by a burgeoning base of new collectors.
According to Magnus Renfrew, co-founder of Art SG, who also runs Taipei Dangdai and Tokyo Gendai, cited statistics from his fair that 42% of collectors in Singapore have been collecting for less than six years – the highest proportion globally. This highlights the country’s vibrant art ecosystem and the appeal of contemporary art to a younger, dynamic audience.
Among the most notable was a two-panel oil painting by British artist William Turnbull, represented by Waddington Custot and valued at USD 180,000. Known primarily as a sculptor, Turnbull’s exploration of painting offers a unique perspective on his artistic legacy. Turnbull’s connection to Singapore through British-born, sculptor Kim Lim, whose retrospective is on view at National Gallery from now till 2 February, adds an intimate layer of relevance to his presence at the fair.
Drawing inspiration from his time as a Royal Air Force pilot, Turnbull once remarked: The world no longer looked like a Dutch landscape; it looked like an abstract painting. This sentiment is reflected in his bold, large-scale work, which captivated attendees at the fair.
Other noteworthy picks included, Jesús Rafael Soto, a pioneer of kinetic art, whose mesmerizing installations of striped rods and planes create dazzling optical illusions that toy with the viewer’s perception of movement. Marina Abramović’s iconic performance piece is translated into a photograph, Point of Contact (1980), represented by Spurs Gallery (Beijing, China) exploring energy and presence. Re-performed continuously for over 700 hours, this minimalist yet powerful work invites viewers to experience the transformative quality of transcendence.
Alongside all the buzz is Thandiwe Muriu, a young Kenyan photographer whose vibrant portraits celebrate traditional African hairstyles and everyday objects. Each photograph is paired with a proverb, blending art, fashion, and storytelling. Finally, participants could get up close with a work from Alex Katz, a celebrated and critically acclaimed New York artist renowned for his vibrant, large-scale portraits and landscapes, seamlessly blending elements of pop art, realism, and abstraction to capture the emotional nuances of modern life.
By fostering cross-regional dialogue and championing both emerging and established artists, Art SG continues to shape the future of contemporary art—making it a must-attend staple event for this region, for collectors, patrons and art enthusiasts from all around the world.
Featured image: Sundaram Tagore (Art SG).
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