SINGAPORE.- & Co. together with the National Gallery Singapore have partnered to present Gallery & Co., a new F&B and retail concept housed within National Gallery Singapore. Taking inspiration from Southeast Asian art and culture, Gallery & Co. fuses art and design into a curated retail experience featuring specially designed products for the museum, books, design collectibles and prints, amongst others, as well as a quick-service, casual dining venue (comprising a café and cafeteria). This beautiful space spans the entire frontage of the City Hall Wing on the ground floor, overlooking the historically significant Padang.

The partners of & Co. are local industry heavyweights Loh Lik Peng (Unlisted Collection), Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin (Foreign Policy Design), along with Alwyn Chong (Luxasia). This new venture combines their diverse experience and depth of expertise, creating a unique platform for cross-disciplinary projects spanning retail, F&B, art, design and culture. Leading the culinary direction at Gallery & Co. will be Lik Peng, while Yah-Leng and Arthur oversee the branding, space and product design. Alwyn heads & Co.’s retail strategy, forming a dream team with Yah-Leng to direct & Co’s merchandising vision, curate brands and identify exciting collaborations exclusive to Gallery & Co.

The partnership between National Gallery Singapore and & Co. epitomises how a well-structured public-private sector collaboration can bring about an inspired outcome that is bold and visionary.

“This collaboration creates a seamless experience for visitors as they extend their art journey into Gallery & Co. to shop, read and dine. We are delighted that & Co. responded to our brief with a pitch that reflects our unique visitor experience philosophy. We welcome visitors to explore Gallery & Co. when it opens, and be among the first to immerse in an experience that is unique to National Gallery Singapore,” said Ms Chong Siak Ching, CEO, National Gallery Singapore.

Opening out to the Padang, Gallery & Co.’s café, cafeteria and bar will be all-day dining concepts. With Chef Sufian Zain of Restaurant Ember as consultant chef, the cafeteria’s menu will feature the distinctive flavours of Southeast Asia, reinterpreted with his signature pared down style. The café offers cakes, coffee and sweets from choice local purveyors and artisans, a perfect respite between exhibition hopping and a gathering place for friends.

Arthur shares, “At Gallery & Co., we want to dispel the elitist stigma associated with art. Being the first-ever museum shop in the world to house a bookstore, F&B establishments and retail in one continuous space, we hope to create a dynamic visitor experience that not only bookends a visit to the National Gallery Singapore, but is also a destination in its own right. By curating and purveying products that provoke curiosity and inspire, we hope to make art accessible to everyone.”

Conceived as an “Entrepôt of Visual Dialogues”, the Gallery & Co. retail experience emphasises a thoughtful medley of products. Exciting collaborations between Southeast Asian and international artists, designers, makers and labels will further implement the vision of a cross-cultural visual dialogue. In alignment with the Gallery’s focus on Singaporean and Southeast Asian art, the store’s offerings are inspired by culture from around the region – connecting Southeast Asia with the world, while simultaneously cultivating a deeper appreciation and understanding for Southeast Asian art.

Gallery & Co. is slated to open in November this year.