Guest of Honour Mr Gan Kim Yong with National Gallery Singapore Senior Management and Gallery Gala 2025 Steering Committee members (Front row, from left: Assistant CEO, Marketing and Development and Co-Chair Aun Koh, Co-Chair Jazz Chong, Chairman of National Gallery Singapore Peter Ho, CEO and Director of National Gallery Singapore Dr Eugene Tan, and Co-Chair Lee Woon Shiu. Back row, from left: Albert Lee, Ho Kheng Lian, Celeste Basapa, Layla Pi, Wendy Long, Willabelle Ong, Vir Kotak, and Jason Ong)

National Gallery Singapore’s Gallery Gala 2025: A Decade of Imagination raised a record of over S$2.8 million on Saturday night, the highest fundraising total in the Gallery’s history. The funds will advance the Gallery’s mission of making art accessible to all – from enabling new exhibitions, deepening curatorial research, and expanding programmes that engage children, seniors, and underserved communities.

Bringing together more than 300 guests from Singapore’s arts, business and philanthropic circles, the Gala – a biennial fundraising mainstay – was held as part of the Gallery’s 10th anniversary celebrations. The event was graced by Guest of Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, who spoke on the importance of philanthropic support in sustaining and growing the arts.

Speaking on the theme of the Gala, Dr Eugene Tan, CEO and Director of National Gallery Singapore, said,

“A Decade of Imagination reflects our recognition that the next ten years demand fresh perspectives. We must refresh our approaches, reinvent our programming, and reimagine how we connect with evolving audience expectations whilst maintaining our commitment to making art accessible to all. The proceeds from this gala will directly support our curatorial research, international exhibitions, and community access programmes.”

Gallery Gala guests bidding for lots during the Sotheby’s-managed auction

The evening’s highlight was the Sotheby’s-managed auction featuring close to 90 rare artworks and luxury experiences, from pieces by the likes of Liu Kang, Heman Chong and Fernando Zóbel, to experiences such as the Britannic Explorer Train Experience from The Cadogan to Le Manoir Aux Quat’saisons by Belmond and more. Spirited live bidding among Gala guests, together with strong participation from the wider public in the online auction, drove record results. Li Huayi’s Pine Breezes in Golden Glow II sold at S$517,000 – the highest ever auctioned item at the Gallery – contributing to the record total, where 100% of the proceeds are directed to the Gallery. Other notable artworks such as Self Portrait by Yayoi Kusama and Gratitude by Lim Tze Peng sold for S$55,000 and S$50,000 respectively.

Gallery Gala guests in the Gallery’s Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery 1

Other highlights also include guests making a grand red-carpet entrance up the historic City Hall steps for the very first time – an arrival that reflected the Gala’s theme of imagination. The Gallery’s Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery 1 was reimagined into an extraordinary long-table dining hall among masterpieces, where guests embarked on a culinary journey by Michelin-starred Julien Royer of Odette, Damian D’Silva, and Peranakan icon Violet Oon, who cooked live in the galleries. With the support of more than 20 official partners, the night came alive with uniquely curated experiences and performances by HAVEN, SORN, DJ Nicolette, DJ Kiara, and NAFA – making the Gala a night to remember.