Kuching Art Galleries

(Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia)

The contemporary art scene in Kuching is beginning to sparkle, with up-and-coming young local artists mingling with established creative talents in a number of commercial art galleries and cultural venues.

Recently opened is the Sarawak Art Museum, which holds exhibitions based on various stages in the evolution of 20th- and 21st-century art. The Sarawak Art Museum may be a relatively new addition to the list of Kuching galleries, but it is already gaining a state-wide reputation for its fine pieces. ARTrageously Ramsay Ong is also of note and is a good place to purchase reasonably priced paintings.

Sarawak Art Museum

Address: Jalan Tun Haji Openg, Kuching, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 082 244 232
Located next to the main Sarawak Museum in the massively majestic former General Post Office, this impressive venue is home to works in contemporary, modern and primitive styles, as well as sculptures and traditional ethnic crafts, with the displays focusing on local Malay artists. The Post Office building itself is particularly impressive, being built in the early 1930s and featuring neo-classical architecture, complete with a colonnaded portico and Corinthian columns.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 16:30
Admission: free

ARTrageously Ramsay Ong

Address: 94 Main Bazaar Street, Kuching, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 082 424 346
This well-known commercial art gallery features contemporary works from several of Malaysia's popular artists, including Ramsay Ong and Chew Fang Chin, who have been exhibited widely in Asia and Australia. Expect art works created using both old and new textiles, as well as traditional baskets, wooden carvings, Asian-themed furnishings, tribal pieces and limited-edition prints. Each year, ARTrageously Ramsay Ong plays host to a variety of guest exhibitions and artisan demonstrations, while if you are looking to pick up an inexpensive souvenir, consider the gift cards and art-related literature available here.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:30 to 18:30, Sunday - 09:30 to 17:30
Admission: free