Singapore Art Week (SAW) this year spotlights women artists from Southeast Asia through multiple initiatives, including the release of the book *You Are Seen: Women’s Contemporary Art Practice in Southeast Asia* and the exhibition *Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise* at the National Gallery Singapore (NGS). The book, published by Yeo Workshop, and the exhibition, featuring five trailblazing artists such as Amanda Heng and Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, reflect a concerted push to elevate female voices in the region. Audrey Yeo, president of the Art Galleries Association Singapore (AGAS), calls it a “big women’s moment,” while collector and author Krystina Lyon notes the varied challenges women artists face across Southeast Asia, from censorship to conservative social norms.
This focus matters because it highlights persistent gender disparities in the region’s art world, where women artists often receive less institutional support, lower pricing, and fewer opportunities than men. By centering these artists during a major art week and at a national institution like NGS, the events signal a growing recognition of their contributions and the need for systemic change. The article also underscores how regional conversations about gender and feminism are becoming more visible, with artists like Citra Sasmita and Eisa Jocson gaining international acclaim despite local tensions, and institutions like the Singapore Art Museum and Asia Art Archive supporting long-term research and programming.