National Gallery Singapore’s Southeast Asia Gallery to close from April 2026 for major revamp
A smaller interim gallery featuring key highlights from the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery will open from October 2026, allowing visitors continued access during the revamp.
A display of the artwork Boschbrand (Forest Fire) by Raden Saleh, an Indonesian artist from the 19th century, featured at National Gallery Singapore's UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. (Photo: National Gallery Singapore)
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The Southeast Asia Gallery at National Gallery Singapore (NGS) will undergo a major revamp from Apr 1, 2026, ahead of a planned reopening in November 2027.
During this period, all galleries across Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the Former Supreme Court Wing will be closed to the public. This includes the Rotunda Library on Level 3 and the UOB Theatrette on Level 5.
To facilitate the revamp, the Rotunda Library and Archive on Level 3 will close earlier on Feb 14, 2026. Those who wish to visit the library and archival materials can do so by appointment via email.
Other spaces in the Former Supreme Court Wing, including the Former Supreme Court Foyer at Level 1 and the Historical Lobby at Level 3, will remain open during the revamp.
Art lovers will also be glad to know that, to continue offering visitors access to part of the collection, a smaller interim gallery featuring selected highlights of the Southeast Asian art exhibition will open from October 2026.
The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery showcases works by artists from across the region, including Indonesian pioneer Raden Saleh and Thai artist Phra Soralaklikhit, whose works span the 19th and early 20th centuries.
According to Patrick Flores, Chief Curator of NGS, the revamp is part of an ongoing renewal aimed at better serving audiences in the years to come.
“Southeast Asia is not just a geographical region, but a space shaped by shared histories, movements and ideas. This revamp draws on years of research and curatorial work, reflecting how perspectives on art in the region have evolved over the past decade," he said.
