The selection of works acquired at this year’s SAM ART SG Fund reflects SAM’s continued efforts to expand its collection beyond the region and establish dialogues with global contemporary practices and discourse. The selection of works for acquisition, notably of three female artists of diverse cultural backgrounds and across different generations, foregrounds the role of female artists in global art practice whose works put forth varied ways to perceive and consider our connection to nature and culture.

The SAM ART SG Fund, which launched this year at ART SG, is an annual initiative supporting the acquisition of artworks by leading and emerging artists for the permanent collection of Singapore Art Museum. The Fund, which allocated SGD $150,000, is made possible through the generous contributions of arts patrons Carmen Yixuan Li, Pure Yichun Chen, and other anonymous donors. Evincing substantial dedication to the museum’s collection as well as Singapore’s vibrant arts ecosystem, the Fund seeks to bolster visual arts education and expand public access to art through future displays of the works. 

Eugene Tan, CEO and Director of Singapore Art Museum, said: “We are thrilled to welcome these remarkable works by artists from diverse regions, backgrounds, and generations into our collection. These acquisitions reflect our commitment to building a collection that inspires our audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for contemporary art. We look forward to further cultivating this partnership and enriching the SAM collection with works from future editions.”

Shuyin Yang, Director of ART SG, said: “We are delighted with the inaugural acquisition of the SAM ART SG Fund. The three artworks, whose acquisition the Fund made possible, are curatorially significant works, and I am excited to see them become part of the permanent collection of Singapore Art Museum, to further enrich their exhibition-making and the diversity of Singapore’s cultural offerings.”

Magnus Renfrew, Co-Founder of ART SG, added: “With this new initiative, the SAM ART SG Fund has further strengthened ties between the fair, its participating gallery, key arts patrons and local institutions, truly championing a connected and dynamic arts landscape within Singapore. We look forward to our continued collaborations with everyone involved over the coming years.”