If you could own any work of art in the world, what would it be and why? This has been a question art trading platform My Art Broker has been posing to the general public on their social media account—and they’ve been running into all sorts of individuals with all sorts of answers. Perhaps it’s an art enthusiast emerging from the Tate Modern in London. Or a pastry shop’s part-time hands catching a break in the alley. Or an unassuming father-daughter pair. The responses run the gamut, from a Rothko painting or David Hockney piece to a Hendrix guitar. The universal truth, however, seems to be as such: art is enjoyed by everyone.
No matter how difficult or inaccessible it may feel, it’s understandable then, that we often find ourselves enamoured with the fascinating and expansive world of art. It takes up a corner of culture that we may not always be used to, but it’s certainly a corner we love exploring. And ever so often, we push the horizons of our own limited art knowledge— through a bevy of established art fairs and conventions from around the world, be it the Miami Art Basel or New York Art Week.
In recent years, however, a rising crop of international art fairs have been popping up all over Asia—the most prominent being the likes of Art Basel Hong Kong and Frieze Seoul. Both of which have steadily risen the ranks in the art world—known for its considered curation of international galleries from across the region and dedicated exhibits that put the spotlight on emerging Asian artists.
The prominence of these art fairs is promising for Asia, which is swiftly cementing its station as a rising hubbub for art. Our very own ART SG which unfurled earlier in the first month of 2025 for example, has been a consistent player for the Southeast Asian region. Meanwhile, Philippines had opened its doors to contemporary art displays and interactive installations across the whole country for its Art Fair 2025 just last month.
But we’re just getting started. Kicking off with the 2025 Art Basel Hong Kong this weekend, these are the most exciting destination art fairs in Asia to look out for, including the now-staple Frieze Seoul and Bali’s first-ever international art fair.
1 / 6
Art Basel Hong Kong
The mothership of art fairs in Asia, the Art Basel in Hong Kong has deservingly earned its repute since it first ran in 2013. The 2025 edition—bigger and better than ever—will play host to over 240 world-class galleries, half of which are from the Asia-Pacific region.
The ‘Encounters’ sector, which puts the spotlight on large-scale projects and installations will feature spanning works like a suite of 30 brass sculptures from Hong Kong-based artist Christopher K. Ho to an offsite project by Zurich-based artist Monster Chetwynd. Other sectors of the art fair include its contemporary art galleries in the main area, and ‘Kabinett’, which will see thematic presentations with a strong focus on artists from the Asian diaspora.
Art Basel Hong Kong will run from 28 March to 30 March 2025.
2 / 6
Art & Bali 2025
Nuanu Creative City is built like an artist’s lair in Bali—so it stands to reason that it will be the site for the island’s first-ever international art fair. Combining Bali’s natural beauty, Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage and its already prevalent international audience, Art and Bali 2025 will seek to reinforce the city as a destination for innovation and art. Expect a diverse array of art to emerge amid immersive installations, sustainable architecture by way of its newly built THK Tower, as well as community art villages—the latter in which traditional craft is brought to the fore.
Art & Bali 2025 will run from 12 to 14 September 2025.
3 / 6
Tokyo International Art Fair
Hosted in Roppongi, the Sakura Group’s Tokyo International Art Fair will be presenting its seventh edition in November this year. Imagine the affluent Roppongi Hills or the statuesque Moro Contemporary Art Museum, which will see over 100 artists present a range of paintings, sculptures, illustrations and even jewellery.
Tokyo International Art Fair will run from 28 to 29 November 2025.
4 / 6
Frieze Seoul
Over the past few years, one art fair has been steadily earning street cred: Frieze Seoul. With applications for its fourth edition in 2025 now open, the high-octane affair is home to a range of sub-sections that are dedicated to various facets of the entire experience. Think commercial galleries like the ‘Frieze x Chanel’ exhibition that welcomes a starry set of celebrities every year, as well as ‘Focus Asia’ where solo artist presentations from Asia-based galleries will be presenting their works—providing opportunity to autonomous Asian artists to exhibit their work on a larger scale.
Frieze Seoul will run from 3 to 6 September 2025.
5 / 6
Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair
All things illustration. Steadily increasing its pull over the years? The Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair, which had its first edition back in 2023. A vibrant community of creatives to build a bridge between the art world and the commercial side of things—hoping to put local and regional talent on an international stage via a series of exhibitions, merchandise sales, talks and networking opportunities for artists.
Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair 2025 will run from 1 to 4 May 2025.
6 / 6
Art Taipei 2025
Year on year, the Art Taipei 2025 is held at the Taipei World Trade Centre, which gathers contemporary art galleries, inventive digital technology as well as a cross-cultural curation of local and global artists under one roof. Art Taipei has certainly built a repertoire for itself over the past 30 years, and yet it still continues to promote the uniqueness of Taiwanese culture through its galleries.
Art Taipei 2025 will run from 24 to 27 October 2025.
