SINGAPORE – Top-notch sales for South-east Asian women artists, including Singapore artists Melissa Tan at mega art fair Art SG and Kim Lim at Sotheby’s auction, ended the first weekend of a vibrant Singapore Art Week (SAW) on a feel-good note.
In its third year, Art SG at Marina Bay Sands was hailed by many galleries as a “tremendous success” and a maturing of an art fair that had met with some skepticism in past editions.
Despite visitorship falling from 46,300 in 2024 to 41,000 in 2025, robust sales more than allayed concerns. White Cube Gallery led the charge with key sales totalling over $2.5 million.
Its Asian managing director, Wendy Xu, said there is a “clear shift” among Singapore collectors from the “observational phase” two years ago to active acquisition, as well as a “noticeable evolution in taste” towards greater sophistication in the regional market.
Mr Richard Koh, founder of Singapore-based Richard Koh Fine Art, said there was also tangible excitement surrounding emerging Singapore artists. Five of the six young Singapore artists he showed were snapped up, including Ruben Pang and Samuel Xun.
But the topline sale of a Singapore artist was Melissa Tan’s eye-catching monumental metallic triptych The Fates: Klotho, Lachesis & Atropos (2024). A regional private museum bought it for an artist record high between $50,000 to $60,000.
Melissa Tan’s The Fates: Klotho, Lachesis & Atropos. PHOTO: HARIDAS CONTEMPORARY
Founder of Haridas Contemporary Christiaan Haridas, whose 1 1/2-year-old gallery presented the work, said he also observed more Singapore-based expatriates showing interest in supporting young Singapore artists, especially those who paint local scenes.
A host of other galleries reported swimming sales. Notably, Lehmann Maupin placed New York artist Teresita Fernandez’s work of handmade paper overlaid with handwoven fibres Stella Maris (Net) 4 (2024) in a Singapore-based private collection for US$120,000 to US$125,000 (S$164,000 to S$171,000).
Singapore gallery Ames Yavuz sold all 22 coffee-stained paper drawings by Filipino-artist Elmer Borlongan and six major paintings by Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak each worth US$60,000 to US$85,000 by the first preview day. Local gallery STPI sold work...