Why do people collect art? And what does it take to build a collection? From a young collector to a global law firm, we speak to three collectors to find out more.
Stephen Teo: Stories of Singapore
Stephen Teo’s collecting journey first began in 2014, with the purchase of two works by acclaimed Singaporean watercolourist Ong Kim Seng. In the decade since, his family’s commitment to collecting local artists has become increasingly directed and purposeful — driven not only by aesthetic pleasure, but also by the broader mission of preserving Singapore’s culture and heritage.
Today, the collection spans a variety of eras and styles, encompassing established names in Singaporean art history like Ong Kim Seng, Lim Tze Peng, and Koeh Sia Yong as well as mid- career artists like Zhu Hong and Kevin Tan. The family also takes pride in presenting exhibitions, acquiring directly from living artists, and bringing attention to lesser-known artists.