National Gallery Singapore’s biennial Gallery Gala 2025: A Decade of Imagination set a new milestone on Saturday, raising over S$2.8 million, the highest fundraising total in the Gallery’s history. The funds will fuel the Gallery’s mission of making art accessible to all, supporting new exhibitions, deeper curatorial research, and community programmes for children, seniors, and underserved groups.
Marking the Gallery’s 10th anniversary, the black-tie evening brought together more than 300 leaders from Singapore’s arts, business, and philanthropic circles. Guest of Honour Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, highlighted the vital role of philanthropy in sustaining the arts.
A Celebration of Art and Giving
The night’s centrepiece was a Sotheby’s-led auction featuring nearly 90 rare artworks and luxury experiences. Standout sales included Li Huayi’s Pine Breezes in Golden Glow II, which fetched S$517,000, a record-breaking single auction item at the Gallery. Works by Yayoi Kusama and Lim Tze Peng also drew spirited bidding, alongside luxury experiences such as Belmond’s Britannic Explorer Train journey.
For the first time, guests made a grand red-carpet entrance up the historic City Hall steps, before dining in the transformed Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery 1, reimagined as a long-table hall surrounded by masterpieces. Culinary luminaries including Michelin-starred Julien Royer (Odette), Damian D’Silva, and Violet Oon created an extraordinary dining experience, with Oon cooking live in the galleries.
The evening unfolded with curated performances by HAVEN, SORN, DJ Nicolette, DJ Kiara, and students from NAFA, adding rhythm and energy to the celebrations.
