Where to buy paintings in Singapore!

Where to buy paintings in Singapore – recommendations from happy customers

If you have a few white walls to fill up in your new home, or you’re just tired of looking at the same old wall art you’ve had for years, it’s good to get personal recommendations for buying paintings across different price ranges. Our tip? Don’t worry about the artist, just buy what you really love; after all, you’re the one who has to look at it for the next however-many years! Below, we talk to a a couple of people who have bought art in Singapore, and we find out what they love about it.

(Oh, and another tip from us: if you and your partner don’t agree on the same painting, just sneak in and buy it while they’re not looking – it’ll add a bit of excitement on the home front!)

South African Peter Callaghan paints a picture for us of his favourite place to buy art in Singapore, Mr Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures.

It’s all in the name – “visual treasures” indeed – and so delightfully vague and intriguing. But the name omits what a delight it is just to talk to Mr Lim. (“Mr Lim’s Shop of Visual and Aural Treasures” would be a bit of a mouthful…)

When I get out of the cab at the store, wade through the tourists taking photos of Haji Lane, climb the creaking stairs and feel the cool blast of the aircon, I know I’m in my happy place.

Mr Lim got me going with art collecting. The first piece I bought from him simply had “I could do that” written in loose, casual letters. It was the very thought that everyone was thinking, and it felt like the most fundamental contemporary art piece. And I could have it for myself – what a rush! Next came a Bukowski portrait by David Choe. Then a Shrigley. Then something green and maybe something blue.

It was all fun and games in the beginning, but the days begin to blur and soon you find yourself looking at your Warhol, your Hirst, your Hockney and you’re overcome with a yearning for more walls.

Discovering local artists

In an effort to cure me of chronic namedropping, Mr Lim introduced me to young artists from this region. The names seemed unpronounceable but the talent was undeniable – with such unique ways of seeing. One day, the world will know these names – and I love that this is what drives Mr Lim. As he’ll tell you, he’s going to find his Banksy.

I now have a collection from the store that has brought much joy to Lala van drivers and framers everywhere. And it has brought much joy and meaning to my life.

I don’t go in looking for something in particular. There is no central thread to what I’m doing other than being struck by it. Mr Lim lets the work talk to me.

I love his eye for things. Those eyes might be a little old and hazy, but they twinkle – they come to life when you talk art. And, as Mr Lim insists, art is important.

8 Haji Lane, #02-01
9815 5300 | IG @mrlimsshopofvisualtreasures
mrlimsshopofvisualtreasures.com

British expat Susana Baglin-Saher talks to us about buying art from Serenity Gallery in Singapore

My background is in interior design and I am passionate about art. In the process of looking for apartments in Singapore, I was struck by a large-scale work by the local artist Hong Sek Chern hanging in a particular property. I felt that I had to have a similar piece for myself as I really liked the abstract concept of her landscapes, where I can see the contrasting heritage and modernity of Singapore.

After visiting many galleries in pursuit of the right piece, I ended up finding a gem in Serenity Gallery. I love the fact that Ben Yeo of Serenity supports local artists and offers a broad range of quality paintings in Singapore.

It was a pleasure to deal with Ben. He’s a professional art dealer with a lot of knowledge about the artists that he showcases in his gallery. I will highly recommend him to my network.

About the artwork

It was through Ben that I was introduced to the artworks of Anthony Chua. I’ve purchased two paintings from his collection, including this one. I was drawn to the black ink works on rice paper and the large scale nature of the artworks on a single canvas.

Serenity Gallery
#02-85 Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain Street
9639 0449 | serenity-gallery.com

Brits Sunanda Dasgupta and her son Vinayak Sethi recommend Zubaadhi Studio & Gallery

We had moved into our new apartment and wanted wall art that was unique. We then met Rajul from Zubaadhi Studio & Gallery at a football match – the timing was perfect. I was looking for paintings in Singapore and she mentioned that she could help with this.

Rajul offers personal suggestions for which artwork to buy. She came to our home and spent time understanding my vague and muddled ideas about what I wanted! She then offered me suggestions, and I decided to go ahead with her advice. Rather than just buying paintings in Singapore off the shelf, I commissioned Rajul to create a painting that reflected what I wanted. The one thing she said to me was, “Fall in love with your paining as you will have it for the rest of your life.”

I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled with my arwork! I would not only buy again from the gallery but I have recommended friends who are keen.

About the artworks

Rajul Shah fuses the Japanese art of kintsugi and the spiritual learnings of the chakras; using the aura from each chakra, she creates meditative abstract expressions of colour. For more information, visit the websiute or contact Rajul to make an appointment.

Zubaadhi Studio & Gallery
rajul@zubaadhi.com | rajul@rajulshahart.com
zubaadhi.com | IG: @zubaadhi.studio.gallery

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