On Sep 13, the heart of Singapore pulsed with celebration. A red carpet unfurled across the steps of the National Gallery Singapore as 300 impeccably dressed guests swept into the City Hall Chamber. The air buzzed with anticipation: Not just for the big-ticket art auction and Michelin-starred feast ahead, but for the significance of the occasion itself.

Five weeks earlier, the nation had gathered across the street at the Padang for the SG60 parade. A spectacular, multi-tiered rotating stage, flanked by 270 LED screens, dazzled the 27,000-strong crowd. It was a night of spectacle and symbolism, with 2,100 participants marching in Singapore’s largest parade since 2019. That evening had celebrated 60 years of nationhood. 

Now, across the road, another milestone was unfolding: The 10th anniversary of the National Gallery Singapore. The Gallery Gala 2025: A Decade of Imagination raised a record-breaking S$2.8 million, the highest fundraising total in the institution’s history. Guests bid enthusiastically on nearly 90 rare artworks and luxury experiences in a Sotheby’s-managed auction. 

The highlight came when Li Huayi’s Pine Breezes in Golden Glow II hammered in at S$517,000 – the highest value ever achieved at the Gallery. Works by Yayoi Kusama and Lim Tze Peng sparked equally spirited competition, while experiences such as the Britannic Explorer Train Journey by Belmond set paddles flashing.