Art SG, the leading international art fair for Singapore and Southeast Asia, announces its second edition and return to Singapore, with a stellar lineup of 115 galleries from 33 countries and territories.

The fair will be held alongside an ambitious program of large-scale installations, insightful conversations, thought-provoking film and new media curations, and expansive city-wide activations in close collaboration with Singapore’s visual art museums, important private collections, and cultural partners, within Singapore Art Week, the city’s annual celebration of the visual arts.

Art SG, presented by founding and lead partner UBS, is set to return to the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands at the heart of Singapore from Jan. 19 to 21, 2024 (with a VIP preview on Jan. 18) after a highly successful debut in January 2023.

Placing a spotlight on Singapore as a fast-rising cultural capital and key destination for artistic exchange, Art SG’s inaugural edition, where it showcased an assembly of leading galleries from the region and around the world, and attracted 43,000 visitors, was hailed by many as the beginning of a new chapter for the art scene in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

“We are proud to be bringing an international art fair of this stature, magnitude, and representation to Singapore once again,” says Magnus Renfrew, co-founder of Art SG. “As the world emerges from the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, galleries are setting their sights on new horizons, with Asia taking center stage. The region’s economic vibrancy and growing appetite for art collecting are drawing global attention. Singapore, positioned at the heart of Asia, stands out as an ideal destination for galleries seeking to expand their audience. Its strategic location, status as a key nexus in the region, and commitment to fostering a vibrant art ecosystem make it the gateway to a burgeoning art market. Art SG, together with the support of our partners, will continue to be a key driver in supporting Singapore’s ambition in becoming a distinctive art city and cultural hub.”

Asia is a key strategic location for UBS, according to Jin Yee Young, co-Head UBS Global Wealth Management Asia Pacific and country head UBS Singapore. “We are delighted to continue our support of Art SG as founding and lead partner, among our other contemporary art sponsorships globally,” she says. “We are excited for Art SG, Singapore, and Southeast Asia’s flagship international art fair, to kick off the region’s annual art calendar with an invigorating start. UBS has a history of supporting cultural endeavors across the world and at the core of this commitment is the UBS Art Collection, one of the most important corporate collections of contemporary art in the world. At the fair, the UBS Art Collection will present works by Eko Nugroho in the UBS Art Studio, featuring interactive sculptures that encourage community action for environmental preservation.”

Singapore’s flourishing visual art scene, characterized by innovation and diversity, as well as world-class museums, galleries, and cultural institutions serves as a significant platform and gateway to the rich artistic ecosystem of Southeast Asia. As one of the world’s leading wealth and family office hubs with excellent infrastructure, connectivity, and hospitality, Singapore has also created an environment for the art market to thrive, bringing together collecting audiences from across Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, and beyond, as well as a burgeoning demographic of mainland Chinese with links to the city, other expatriate communities, and wealth circles.

Art SG in 2024 will host once again some of the world’s best-known galleries, including Gagosian, White Cube, Thaddaeus Ropac, Lehmann Maupin, neugerriemschneider, Xavier Hufkens, StephenFriedman Gallery, Galerie Karsten Greve, Galerie Gisela Capitain, Annely Juda Fine Art, Goodman Gallery, Kukje Gallery, P.P.O.W, Peres Projects, ShanghART Gallery, Ota Fine Arts, MadeIn Gallery, albertz benda, and more, which testifies to the strong collecting base and potential in the region.

Furthermore, next year’s edition will welcome 38 new exhibitors, which reflects the continued interest from international galleries and emerging spaces to deepen their engagement with Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, including Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Asia Art Center, TARO NASU, Sabrina Amrani, Polígrafa Obra Gráfica, BASTIAN, Chi-Wen, among others.

Art SG 2024 will also feature an impressive lineup of Southeast Asian galleries, showcasing the very best in contemporary art practice from the region, through regional stalwarts Yavuz Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art, Mizuma Gallery, Sullivan + Strumpf, FOST GALLERY, and first-time participants including BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, Nadi Gallery, Wei-Ling Gallery, The Back Room, Rissim Contemporary, Srisasanti Gallery, and Kohesi Initiatives.

The impact of Art SG, as it moves into its second year, is also reflected within the resonances it has on the city-wide programming and a fostering of ideas, relationships, and thought leadership.

Spotlighting the importance of collector-driven initiatives in increasing visibility and support for contemporary art, significant private collection, and private foundation exhibitions will be mounted in January 2024, including showcases helmed by Art SG Advisory Group members, or designed to co-time with Art SG, such as Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics by The Institutum; Rough, presented by The Pierre Lorinet Collection; as well as other initiatives by M Art Foundation, Eight Foundation, The Private Museum, and more, alongside museum exhibitions, gallery openings, and artist activations as part of the overall Singapore Art Week.

“We are delighted to welcome the return of Art SG for its second edition as part of Singapore Art Week (SAW),” says Tay Tong, director, Visual Arts (Arts Ecosystem Group), National Arts Council. “Art SG’s presence is a testament to the city’s vibrant arts scene, and positions Singapore as a regional hub for the arts. We invite everyone to be part of SAW and experience art.”

In its second edition, Art SG continues to elevate the profile of contemporary art practice from Singapore and Southeast Asia, through a stellar line-up of international galleries and artistic content. “This will be presented within a strong programming framework of dynamic installations featuring rising talents working in non-traditional mediums as well as established names, a FILM sector in collaboration with the ArtScience Museum, and a thought-provoking series of panel discussions,” says Shuyin Yang, fair director at Art SG. “Additionally we are delighted that private foundations and collectors, many of whom have supported Art SG since our launch, have rallied around the city and are opening the doors to their outstanding collections, or showcasing how new narratives and curatorial concepts can be supported by private initiatives. These exhibitions will present a wealth of significant works not normally on public view, while being synergistic with the growing interest in art collecting and the visual art scene across Singapore and Southeast Asia.”