National Gallery Singapore’s logo gets off the wall and onto the streets

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National Gallery Singapore is extending its presence beyond museum walls with the launch of "The Gallery benches", an islandwide public installation running from 9 to 18 January 2026.

The initiative reimagines the Gallery’s iconic red logo as ten functional benches placed across ten public locations in Singapore, including East Coast Park, Orchard Road, Marina Bay, Lau Pa Sat and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Designed as usable public furniture rather than artworks, the benches invite the public to sit, rest, eat, chat and interact with the Gallery through everyday moments in shared spaces.

Don't miss: How National Gallery Singapore is trying to be a museum for everyone

By translating its visual identity into a physical object for public use, the Gallery aims to meet audiences where they already are, extending cultural encounters into daily life beyond exhibitions. Locations were selected across neighbourhoods, parks, civic spaces and cultural districts, reinforcing the institution’s intent to integrate art and culture into the city’s everyday rhythms.

Alongside the installation, the Gallery will document how the benches are used through film and photography, working with a group of Singapore-based visual creators. Members of the public are also encouraged to photograph and share their own interactions with the benches.

"The Gallery benches" also anchors a new fundraising initiative. Organisations and individuals can adopt a bench for a three-year period at S$10,000, or sponsor one of its two rectangular elements at S$6,000. Proceeds will support the Gallery’s exhibitions, access programmes, children and family engagement, and arts and wellness initiatives.

Following the islandwide showcase, the benches will return to National Gallery Singapore from 24 January 2026 and be installed within the Gallery. Having been used in public spaces, they will become part of the institution’s physical environment.

The initiative coincides with the Gallery entering its second decade, signalling a renewed focus on visibility, accessibility and public connection. It also positions the Gallery as the first museum in Singapore to translate its visual identity into a usable public initiative at this scale.

Encountered during a commute, lunch break or casual walk, the benches offer a pause point, and a reminder that the Gallery exists not just as a building, but as part of Singapore’s shared public spaces.

“The Gallery believes that art is for anyone and everyone. These benches are a simple way of meeting people where they already are. By placing them in everyday public spaces, we hope to break down the perception of art as distant or intimidating, and show that it can be encountered casually, openly, and as part of everyday life," said Eugene Tan, chief executive officer and director of National Gallery Singapore.

In tandem, Aun Koh, assistant chief executive, marketing and development at National Gallery Singapore said, "Our partnerships are built on shared values and long-term commitment. This initiative reflects a different way of supporting the arts – one that is visible in public spaces and allows art to be inclusive and embedded in everyday life."

The initiative builds on the Gallery’s broader push to meet audiences beyond traditional museum settings. In June last year, National Gallery Singapore appeared as a cinematic backdrop in BTS Jin’s Don’t Say You Love Me music video, part of a collaboration between the Singapore Tourism Board and BIGHIT MUSIC.

The feature positioned the Gallery as a living part of Singapore’s cultural narrative, exposing it to a global audience beyond core art enthusiasts. Speaking to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE at the time, Koh, said the Gallery’s aim was to demystify the museum experience and invite a wider spectrum of visitors through its doors.

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