When you think of Singapore, iconic attractions like the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay, and Marina Bay Sands might come to mind. But if you want to know what to see in Singapore that is on the underrated side, the answer is IG-worthy street art!
Singapore’s street art often appears in areas laden with culture and heritage, such as Joo Chiat Road and Little India. The best part about being on the hunt for street art? Besides seeing massive paintings on buildings and shop facades, you can take pictures of/with them before they’re painted over. You’ll have the art preserved with you forever!
Here are all the best places to see the best street art in Singapore!
1. Little India
This cultural precinct not only has vibrant culture and cuisine, but it also has street art at almost every turn! You’ll find murals on shophouses and buildings, ranging from the enigmatic to the humorous, like that of the dancer surrounded by surveillance cameras and the one featuring Ultraman. Along Kerbau (buffalo) Road in Little India, you’ll also find a rainbow cow mural, a reminder of the area's old cattle trading business, which played a significant role in Little India's development.
2. Joo Chiat Road
Joo Chiat Road is famous for its rows of traditional Peranakan (the term for the first Southern Chinese settlers in Southeast Asia) shophouses painted with vivid colors. Aside from the famed houses, it’s also a great place to spot street art in Singapore. You should keep your eyes out for the one of a mother and child at the car park facing Joo Chiat!
3. Chinatown
Another significant cultural precinct in Singapore is Chinatown, which features numerous street art. The works of renowned artist Yip Yew Chong are peppered all over this area. You can spot them while sampling tea from the best vendors on this tea merchant and street art tour!
You can also learn more about this area while taking IG-worthy pics and listening to the stories of Singapore’s progression and its early immigrants on this Chinatown Instawalk.
4. Katong
Katong is known for its colorful shophouses and the rich Peranakan heritage. Along its East Coast Road, keep your eyes peeled for Medley Alley by Nicia Lam, Valerie Neo, Novena Angela, and Yillish Lam. In honor of the area’s heritage, this mural resembles wings made out of Peranakan tiles!
5. Aliwal Street (Aliwal Arts Centre)
Aliwal Street, home of the Aliwal Arts Centre, is a great place to find street art in Singapore, especially when you head to its side alley entrance! There you’ll find an alpha batik piece by Singaporean artist Slacsatu, known for its explosion of color.
Behind the Arts Centre, you’ll find an art piece by Antz (Anthony Chong), featuring a dragon surrounded by vivid colors and sharp lines. And, if you can, journey along Aliwal Street to Cuturi Gallery, which has a brilliantly painted facade! This mural, which features Singapore’s flora, fauna, and ships — a nod to the country’s seafaring history — was painted by Didier Jaba Mathieu.
6. Amoy Street
The wall behind Thian Hock Keng temple at Amoy Street is adorned by a gorgeous 40-meter-long mural by Yip Yew Chong himself. It consists of seven panels depicting the early lives of Hokkien immigrants, with illustrations of weddings and bustling kampong (village) days!
7. Spottiswoode Park Road
Singapore street art also features the works of foreign artists, such as Thai doodler Patcharapol Tangruen, a.k.a. Alex Face. Look out for his signature bunny-like creatures, like the duo along Spottiswoode Park Road wearing changshan and nonya kebaya, which are traditional Peranakan costumes!
8. 50 Dunlop Street
At 50 Dunlop Street, you’ll find ‘Vilakku bb’ by visual artist Mithra Jeevananthan, which was featured in Artwalk Little India. It’s a scene that draws inspiration from the hues used in creating Kolam (a traditional art form) and the Enney Vilakku to represent the aspiration of reviving vibrancy and liveliness!
9. Tanjong Katong Road
As part of Arts In Your Neighbourhood or AYN, an initiative by Singapore’s National Arts Council, an artist named Kiat produced a piece called Fleeting. The mural features a sunbird, inspired by interactions with locals who frequently stop by the area to sip from the alleyway water pipes and indulge in the flowers growing in residents' gardens.
10. Neil Road
Artist Sam Lo adorned the back of the new Shake Shack outlet with a mural that reflects the lively neighborhood. His remarkable depiction features a Chinese qilin, a bird, Malay roof eaves, and bright Peranakan tiling!
11. Bali Lane and Ophir Road
Bali Lane and Ophir Road are home to Southeast Asia's first 'Hall of Fame.’ It’s a space dedicated to street art, with a 230-meter spread with the works of Singaporean artists Jaba Mathieu, ZERO, and ANTZ.
12. Jalan Besar
A mural depicting bullock carts and scenes from the now-defunct New World Amusement Park can be found on French Road, located between HDB blocks in Jalan Besar. It was painted by Social Creatives, a collective that aims to promote community art in HDB blocks (affordable housing from the government) across Singapore.
13. Haji Lane
Haji Lane is a quirky treat for those looking for something unique, with its shops, artisanal cafes, and murals from top artists! These works include the intricate and futuristic “el lío” by Didier Jaba Mathieu. You can visit Haji Lane along with other top attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands on the Highlights of Singapore Instagram Tour.
For a tour of Singapore’s Civic District and its old-timey charms, you can also join the Civic Colours Instawalk:
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14. Tiong Bahru
Tiong Bahru is considered the more trendy part of town, with cafes, yoga studios, and bookstores. This makes its street art fit right into the artsy vibe! Yip Yew Chong created a couple of heritage murals in its alleys, such as Pasar and the Fortune Teller, Bird Singing Corner, and Home.
15. Bras Basah
This heritage district is covered in art, from benches to lamp posts and alleyways! Here, you’ll find bizarre but visually engaging depictions of monsters, tigers and dragons, quirky lettering staples of street art, and scenes from daily life.
16. Coleman Bridge
In the underpass along Singapore River, under Coleman Bridge, you’ll find a surprising amount of art. The works of Sir Stamford Raffles will take you back to old Singapore, along with depictions of samsui women (Chinese female immigrants) and the roaring lion. You might even chance upon talented buskers during your walk!
17. Geylang Park Connector
Also in the Joo Chiat neighborhood is the Geylang Park Connector, which Didier Jaba Mathieu blesses with a colorful mural of an Arowana. However, he doesn’t take all the credit as kids from Jamiyah Children's Home lent a helping hand!
18. Dunlop Street
Last (but not least) on our list of spots to find street art in Singapore is The Singapura Club at Dunlop Street. Here, graffiti artist Ceno painted an old Indian man drinking from a teacup, an ode to his works at the Club’s first establishment at Haji Lane, except it’s in color!
Now that you know all the best places to spot gorgeous street art in Singapore, it’s time to plan your trip to see them with your own eyes — and immortalize them on your IG feed!
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Written by: Rohana Monzon