Art Events in Singapore To Look Out For In Q1 2025

Celebrations: Tradition Reimagined

A collaboration between Cultural Medallion recipient Goh Beng Kwan and local furniture brand Commune, Celebrations: Tradition Reimagined offers a fresh perspective on family values, traditions, and the significance of auspicious symbols, told through the lens of contemporary art and sustainable design.

From 11 January to 12 February 2025, Commune’s flagship showroom at Millenia Walk will feature 40 of Goh’s intricate collages made from vintage and modern red packets (ang bao) each of which holds deep personal significance, as they come from a private collection started by the artist’s wife in the 1960s. Highlights include Abundant Wealth, which unites red and green packets with motifs of double fish and dragons, and Ba-Gua Prosperity, a striking octagonal piece with layered textures. 

Additionally, several works will also incorporate recycled materials from Commune, such as offcuts of wood and leather—fitting into the theme of renewal and transformation in the New Year. Goh will be leading a series of upcycling workshops for the public throughout the exhibition, sharing his methods of working with recycled materials to create his works of art.

Singapore Art Week and ART SG 2025

Singapore Art Week (SAW) returns for its 13th edition from 17 to 26 January 2025, transforming the city into a vibrant arts hub with over 130 events island-wide. Organised by the National Arts Council, SAW celebrates creativity with exhibitions, performances, and experiences for art lovers of all ages. Returning favourites like ART SG, S.E.A. Focus, and Light to Night 2025 will be presented alongside immersive showcases like Con-Temporary Art: a travelling miniature gallery that blends both installation and performance; DIGIkat -- Our Social Fabric, a unique collaboration that fuses food and art; and Before and After the Unknown, which reimagines 11th century Temasek through a speculative fiction experience at the iconic Fort Canning Park.

Returning for its third edition from 17 to 19 January 2025 (VIP Preview and Vernissage on 16 January 2025), ART SG takes centre stage as Southeast Asia’s leading international art fair.

ART SG 2025 features 106 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories; and the sectors include GALLERIES, FOCUS, and FUTURES. Look forward to large-scale installations in PLATFORM, as well as a thought-provoking TALKS series and an engaging FILM programme, both presented in collaboration with the fair’s cultural partners. 

Ruinart x Art SG

The Ruinart Art Lounge at Art SG 2025 is where art lovers and enthusiasts can discover Ruinart’s unique dialogue with nature through art with exceptional champagne from 17–19 January. Ruinart is set to present a facet of Conversations with Nature, spotlighting Marcus Coates - one of the six visionaries fronting Ruinart’s Carte Blanche.

Designed as a welcoming space featuring a pop-up bar and chic seating, the lounge invites visitors to indulge in Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs cuvée, while immersing themselves in intriguing artworks from Marcus Coates’ famous ‘Nature Calendar.’ Through different media – painting, photography, sculpture and sound installations – he explores imaginary and symbolic relationships between mankind and nature. The Britain-born artist's work establishes links between individuals and species by creating empathy - which can be appreciated in the form of videos, texts and performances. 

At this Ruinart Art Lounge, you will see an ephemeral calendar designed by Coates - that marks the daily events taking place in nature at Maison Ruinart’s historic Taissy vineyard, from plants flowering to birds migrating and insect lifecycles. In the form of flags, one of which is hoisted every day, the calendar celebrates invisible news from the ecosystem with a short phrase. 

Basquiat unveiled

Dive into the life and times of iconic American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Behind the Canvas Series 1: Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition, running at Marina Bay Sands from now to 6 March 2025. Presented by Covenant ART and House of Inspiration, the exhibition marks its Asian debut, offering a rare opportunity to delve into Basquiat’s creative universe.

Known for his raw, neo-expressionist style, Basquiat’s prolific body of work tackles themes of identity, race, and social dynamics, highlighted through a bold use of frenetic lines and symbolic imagery.  Exhibition highlights include never-before-seen sketches, rare archival materials, immersive studio recreations, and digital installations of masterpieces like Untitled (1983) and Pez Dispenser (1984).