What Affordable Art Fair Singapore’s growing Asian presence says about the art market

Art collecting has long carried an unfortunate reputation for exclusivity, with intimidating galleries, opaque pricing, and the assumption that acquiring original artwork requires considerable wealth.

Yet, the continued growth of Affordable Art Fair Singapore suggests that the appetite for owning art extends well beyond the traditional collector.

Returning to the F1 Pit Building from November 26 to 29, 2026, the fair’s 19th edition will bring together 97 galleries from 20 countries, including 25 first-time exhibitors. More significantly, 80 galleries hail from Asia, reflecting the region’s growing prominence in Singapore’s commercial art landscape.

The numbers tell an encouraging story. Since 2023, the number of participating galleries has risen from 81 to 97, while annual art sales climbed by $5 million to a record $5.7 million in 2025.

Asia takes centre stage

South Korea now accounts for the largest national contingent, with 29 galleries, up from 21 last year. Singapore follows closely with 28, while Hong Kong and China contribute six each, and Japan five. “Singapore’s position as a regional commercial art hub makes it a natural meeting point for galleries, artists and collectors from across Asia,” says Alan Koh, fair director, Singapore.

The growing Korean presence is particularly interesting. As Korean music, cinema, fashion, and television continue attracting international audiences, visual art represents another dimension of the country’s expanding cultural influence.

Among the participating galleries, South Korea’s Frame Blue will present Woojin Kim, whose colourful animal sculptures comprise thousands of stainless-steel components. Singapore’s Art Forum will introduce husband-and-wife artists Kamalakannan and Eugenia Tan, who began as collectors before developing their own artistic practices.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Palma Arte will present Alessandra Perini, a former fashion designer who transforms textile techniques into three-dimensional figurative portraits.

The price of ownership

Accessibility remains central to the fair’s commercial proposition. Every artwork costs below $15,000, with 75 per cent priced below $7,500. Still, for prospective collectors, the attraction extends beyond pricing. The opportunity to engage directly with galleries, understand artistic processes, and encounter original works in person offers a more approachable introduction to collecting. 

And as artificial intelligence makes generating imagery increasingly effortless, questions surrounding originality, authorship, and artistic value have become particularly pertinent. Affordable Art Fair addresses these considerations through its selection process, reviewing proposed artworks and artistic practices individually while restricting editioned works to limited runs.

Ultimately, its continued expansion raises an interesting possibility: that Singapore’s next generation of art collectors may emerge from audiences who previously considered ownership beyond their reach.

Affordable Art Fair Singapore runs from November 26 to 29 at the F1 Pit Building. Advance tickets cost $24, or $19 for students and seniors aged 60 and above, until November 22.