The best art galleries in KL

Malaysia’s National Art Gallery — also known as Balai Seni Negara, colloquially shortened to ‘Balai’ — has reopened following two years of refurbishment. On exhibit through 2025 is NUSA with over 400 artworks by the likes of local greats Ahmad Fuad Osman, Latiff Mohidin and Redza Piyadasa, Southeast Asian artists such as Indonesia’s Ristyo Eko Hartanto and Thailand’s Thawan Duchanee, multimedia installations, and even masks from the indigenous Mah Meri tribe dating from the ’50s.

As the country’s official art institution established in 1958, it houses one of the largest collections in Southeast Asia totaling over 4,500 pieces worth RM65million. Besides NUSA, the galleries are frequently refreshed with new curation and exhibitions.

Those initiated in Malaysian modern and contemporary art have visited ILHAM Gallery at least once or twice since it opened its doors in 2015. But even for those for whom art is a new experience, the gallery aims to appeal with panel discussions, performances, screenings, and even art classes for children.

Housed in a 58-story tower designed by British architecture firm Foster + Partners, the gallery exhibits and supports the work of Malaysian modern and contemporary artists within a regional and global context. Here, even the gardens feature art installations of their own: don’t miss Ai Weiwei’s first permanent public sculptural work in Southeast Asia, Divina Proportione, installed at the tree-lined plaza in front of the building, alongside Pinaree Sanpitak’s Breast Stupa Topiary. There's also a great gift shop with a small café if you need a quick pick-me-up.

As the name suggests, Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery explores the Bank’s role in the Malaysian economy and financial landscape. That’s fine if you’re into all things fiscal (and even makes for a fun day out with the little ones), but we say skip straight ahead to the art gallery on the third floor; the Bank’s art collection stands at about 1,700 works, and whilst that figure doesn’t top Balai Seni Negara, it’s substantial. At 10,000 sq ft, the art gallery exhibits paintings, prints and sculptures. Here, find famous works by familiar names like Abdullah Ariff, Chang Fee Ming, Khalil Ibrahim, Mohd Hoessein Enas, Redza Piyadasa, and Syed Ahmad Jamal, and more. Admission is free. As featured on Time Out KL’s 101 things to do.

In Sentul, A+ WORKS of ART is a compact, light-filled contemporary art gallery with a geographic focus on Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It presents a range of contemporary art practices, from painting to performance, drawing, textile, sculpture, new media art, photography, video and installation. 

Per director and founder Joshua Lim, collaboration is the ethos of A+ Works of Art. The gallery’s strength lies in its relationship with artists, curators, collectors, galleries and partners from within the region and beyond — and the particular care it takes in showcasing their works. Its name is a play on striving for distinction while rooted in the idea that art is never without context and is always reaching to connect — it is always “plus” something else.

Rissim Contemporary, established in 2019, focuses on forefronting the works of young, emerging, and mid-career Malaysian artists. In its space on Jalan Telawi, the gallery strives not only to foster the careers of a new generation of artists, but also to nurture a new audience of young art collectors and lovers. Along those lines, the gallery has worked with and represented artists such as Engku Iman, who showed her solo exhibition ‘Selat Perindu’; self-taught painter and photographer Fauzan Fuad; and Saiful Razman, a multi-disciplinary artist, among others.

ZHAN Art Space is distinguished for its deep passion for contemporary arts. Founded in 2019 by the Tong siblings, the gallery is committed to making arts accessible to all and to present an eclectic roster of emerging young artists. Since its establishment, the 2,000 sq ft gallery has curated artworks by hundreds of artists including Alya Hatta, Bono Stellar, oodplex, and Sanker Ganesh, among others, in addition to hosting Isa Ishak’s first solo ‘Kisah Isa Ishak’ and London-based Malaysian artist collective Unamed Collective’s first exhibition ‘Illegitimate’.

Go through Piu Piu Piu to find The Back Room at The Zhongshan Building. An intimate gallery — more of a room, really — committed to platforming art by alternative and emerging artists, The Back Room shows works in all forms including paintings, prints, photographs, silkscreens, and sculptures. More recently, the gallery has presented a solo exhibition by Joshua Fitton titled ‘Shadows in Time’ featuring ink drawings made with pieces from broken ceramic plates; ‘Inventory of Intimacies’, a group exhibition showing three emerging Malaysian artists working with textiles, Ang Xia Yi, Cheong See Min, and Nia Khalisa; and works by the likes of CC Kua and Mark Tan.

Segaris, in Publika, is owned by UiTM Holdings (yes, the university). It was set up in 2011 as a platform to promote works by the students and alumni of the Fine Arts department at the MARA Institute of Technology, UiTM. Over the years, Segaris has come into its own as a commercial gallery with a more open and welcoming policy, exhibiting over 800 artists since. Many artists, such as Fadilah Karim, have spoken about Segaris’ crucial support in shaping their careers: from alumnus to emerging artist to sought-after name in the scene.

Suma Orientalis Fine Art is all about Asian art. A contemporary fine art gallery newly relocated to The Five in Damansara Heights, its roster of artists include the likes of Eng Hwee Chu, Lith Ng Yee Leng, and Jane Stephanny from Indonesia. Its past and current exhibitions, covering abstract art, realistic paintings, contemplative and whimsical pieces, are examples of the gallery’s exciting ethos of spotlighting emerging artists with a dynamic practice, and leave much to be excited about for its future presentations. Beyond that, the gallery also frequently hosts talks and open discussions on art.

Core Contemporary Art is a subsidiary of Core Design Gallery, established by founder and art director Scarlette Lee. The gallery represents several Malaysian contemporary artists, including emerging, mid-career and established artists working across all media. 

Although contemporary Malaysian art has only recently begun to receive due recognition in the international art world, the gallery has long been its key proponent, exhibiting at art fairs spanning the breadth of the region, including Art Busan, Art Central Hong Kong, and Art Solo Taipei, among others.