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Art in the Alley: Top Street Art in Singapore
- Chinatown
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- My Chinatown Home
- The Letter Writer
- Year of the Pig
- Kampong Glam
- Untitled, Batik Graffiti Series
- Faces From the Past
- Untitled, Piedra Negra
- Satay Club and Kampong Gelam
- Little India
- A Ride Through Race Course Road
- Madan Mogra: Jasmine of the City
- Working Class Hero
- Daily Delivery
- Joo Chiat and East Coast Road
- Kway Guan Huat Popiah
- High Tide
- A History of Healing
- Dancing Peranakan Ladies
- Tiong Bahru
- Bird Singing Corner
- Pasar and The Fortune Teller
- Planting The Seeds
- Home
What makes street art so alluring is that they’re usually found in the most unconventional and unexpected places. In a city like Singapore, unassuming alleyways turn into unlikely tourist spots thanks to the murals that adorn them.
From the culturally rich enclaves of Little India and Joo Chiat to unexpected corners in various neighbourhoods, street art has woven itself into the cultural fabric of the Lion City.
So, if you have a keen eye for art, block off a whole day in your itinerary and explore the visually stunning street art in Singapore!
Chinatown
Chinatown is, by no means, one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Singapore. Owing to its rich heritage, this cultural enclave has no shortage of colourful street art.
Standout street artists in the area are Yip Yew Chong, a local who vividly captures typical Chinese traditions and everyday scenes in the neighbourhood, and Didier Jaba Mathieu, whose futuristic and vibrantly coloured murals embellish Ann Siang Hill.
Mid-Autumn Festival
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: In between Smith Street and Temple Street, Chinatown
If you walk across from the Chinatown Complex, you’ll find Yip Yew Chong’s Mid-Autumn Festival mural. It’s pretty hidden among the shophouses, but it’s a bit easy to spot thanks to the mostly cream-coloured walls of the buildings.
The mural depicts three children seemingly fixing a colourful lantern as two elderly people watch them while eating mooncakes and fruits.
Vividly hued and intricately crafted lanterns dangle overhead, offering a tantalising glimpse into the quintessential Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere within the vibrant streets of Chinatown.
My Chinatown Home
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: 30 Smith St, Singapore 058944
My Chinatown Home by Yip Yew Chong serves as his nostalgic tribute to his roots in Sago Lane, Chinatown. The mural, gracing a shophouse near Chinatown Street Market, depicts Yip Yew Chong’s family in their everyday activities within their humble abode.
Yip Yew Chong painted his mother cooking sticky cake by the stove, his siblings lounging on a stilted wooden bed, and his grandmother sewing on the rightmost corner.
Every single detail, from the food on the table to the curtains strung up against the windows, makes every passerby feel like we’re peeking into the lives of a happy yet unassuming family.
The Letter Writer
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: 336 Smith St, New Bridge Centre, Singapore 050336
Another homage to Chinese tradition is The Letter Writer by Yip Yew Chong. Located on a side wall of the New Bridge Centre, the mural depicts a man doing Chinese calligraphy with bright red pamphlets with gold characters hanging above him.
In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolises prosperity and good fortune. These red pamphlets highlight the colour’s strong association with Chinese culture and are fondly honoured in the mural.
In Yip Yew Chong’s mural, red pamphlets bear letters from Chinese immigrants sent to loved ones in China—a common sight in pre-1980s Chinatown.
Year of the Pig
From didierjabamathieu
Artist: Didier Jaba Mathieu
Location: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Colombian artist Didier Jaba Mathieu painted the Peranakan-inspired Year of the Pig along Ann Siang Hill. Created in 2019, the mural emerged shortly after the festivities of the Year of the Pig during Chinese New Year that year.
The mural shows a winking pig covered in Peranakan-inspired patterns. The backdrop gracefully expands into a semi-circle, intricately adorned with Peranakan designs reminiscent of traditional embroidery and needlework.
There’s no telling when Didier Jaba Mathieu will adorn Chinatown with more Chinese zodiac signs, but we’re more than happy with the winking pig for now!
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam’s Haji Lane and Arab Street are infamous for their hip bars, chic cafes, bustling street markets, and, of course, vibrant street art.
Many esteemed artists have taken to Kampong Glam for multiple projects, including works done by acclaimed artists Didier Jaba Mathieu, Ceno2, Slac Satu, and Yip Yew Chong.
Untitled, Batik Graffiti Series
From slacsatu_znc
Artist: Slac Satu
Location: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Wedged in an alleyway between Haji Lane and Arab Street is one of Slac Satu’s murals under his Batik Graffiti Series. As the name suggests, the mural consists of colourful patterns, typically used in traditional Indonesian batik printing.
Slac Satu was infamously arrested for spray painting walls in Singapore, but his name is far from tarnished, as he’s now a household name in the local street art scene.
There’s another mural under the series that Slac Satu did in collaboration with the Zinc Nite Crew, a graffiti group of which he’s part.
Faces From the Past
From iamceno2
Artist: Ceno2 (Mohammad Azlan Ramlan)
Location: 36 Haji Lane, Singapore 189229
Faces From the Past is one of the most iconic murals in Kampong Glam. If you look up “street art in Kampong Glam” on the Internet, we have no doubt that this unassuming mural will pop up on your feed.
Commissioned by The Singapura Club, Ceno2 (Mohammad Azlan Ramlan) crafted a mural featuring an elderly man in a turban, paying tribute to the rich cultural and ethnic tapestry of Arab Street.
The mural’s monochromatic black and white tones stand out amidst the vibrant graffiti in the area, showcasing Ceno2’s versatility beyond his expressive, colourful portraits. The stone-faced turbaned man reveals another facet of his extraordinary talent.
Untitled, Piedra Negra
From didierjabamathieu
Artist: Didier Jaba Mathieu
Location: Piedra Negra, Haji Lane, Singapore 189229
Piedra Negra in Haji Lane provides an ideal backdrop for Didier Jaba Mathieu’s mural paying homage to Mexico’s indigenous Aztec group.
The side wall of this Mexican restaurant on Haji Lane features vibrant portraits portraying Aztec people amid the Spanish conquest. The walls are adorned with Aztec symbols, and giant bejewelled figures that appear to make offerings from top to bottom.
This particular mural of Mathieu is said to have sparked the street art scene in Haji Lane, and we don’t wonder why!
Satay Club and Kampong Gelam
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: 9 Jln Pinang, Singapore 199141
Yip Yew Chong returns with commissioned works at Hotel NuVe on Jalang Pinang. Satay Club and Kampong Gelam are pretty self-explanatory, but true to his style, these artworks vividly depict the area’s rich heritage.
The Satay Club mural features a street vendor cooking satay, with diners at a wooden table. In the background, Gelam trees signify Beach Road’s history as a hub for satay vendors, inspiring the name “Kampong Gelam”.
On the other hand, Kampong Gelam shows a family going about their daily life, selling intricate carpets and woven baskets––two crafts that Arab Street is known for!
Little India
Thanks to ArtWalk Little India, a yearly arts festival, Little India gained attention as the next street art hub in Singapore. Over the years, the number of iconic murals has grown bigger and more profound.
Notable works by Didier Jaba Mathieu, ZERO, Nadiah Alsagoff, and Jaxton Su pay homage to the migrant workers residing in Little India.
A Ride Through Race Course Road
From jaxtonjx
Artist: Jaxton Su
Location: 50 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218562
Jaxton Su’s A Ride Through Race Course Road is a heartfelt tribute to the Little India community.
Supported by the Singapore Turf Club, National Youth Council, and National Arts Council, Su collaborated with teachers, students, and migrant workers to create this vibrant mural.
The mural shows a horse race jockey seemingly speeding through a street vendor’s fruits for sale. The vendor nonchalantly organises her produce next to the racer, while a herd of horses graze to the right.
Madan Mogra: Jasmine of the City
Artist: Nadiah Alsagoff
Location: 27 Chander Road, Singapore 219536
Madan Mogra: Jasmine of the City by Nadiah Alsagoff pays tribute to the hardworking migrant workers whose labour of love and sacrifice helped build the Little India and neighbouring ethnic districts that we all know––and love––today.
The mural takes up the whole wall in a small alleyway tucked between Race Course Road and Chander Road. A towering vine with bright white jasmine flowers adorn it.
The jasmine symbolises migrant workers’ resilience in overcoming challenges for a brighter future. A section to its right, portraying a construction worker tending to a pot, has been removed since 2021.
Working Class Hero
From zero_x_rscls_o
Artist: ZERO
Location: 11 Hindoo Rd, Singapore 209110
Working Class Hero is an iconic street mural in Little India created by Singaporean street art legend ZERO. The mural is a colourful portrait of Tamil celebrity Rajinikanth wearing sunglasses and sporting a smile.
While tourists might perceive the mural as unassuming, it conveys a powerful message understood by the Indian minority. Rajinikanth is renowned not only for his movies but also for his inspiring rags-to-riches story.
The trope of emerging from poverty while remaining grounded in humble origins resonates with many locals in Little India. It serves as an inspiring tribute to the numerous migrant workers in the area, deserving of the attention it has garnered.
Daily Delivery
From didierjabamathieu
Artist: Didier Jaba Mathieu
Location: 212 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218074
On a wall facing Baboo Lane perpendicular to Serangoon Road, you’ll find another masterpiece by Didier Jaba Mathieu. Daily Delivery takes inspiration from the tiffin trade of Little India where delivery riders carry tiffins filled with food.
From afar, the mural seems straightforward: a delivery man doing his job, pushing a cart brimming with packed food. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see that the cart is actually a hovercraft.
There are no wheels either––they’ve been replaced with rocket engines! If the future of Little India’s meal delivery service looks like this, then we’d have Indian food daily!
Joo Chiat and East Coast Road
Joo Chiat is another culturally important neighbourhood in Singapore, particularly because it’s the first and only designated heritage town in the country.
Its esteemed status is amplified by the number of street art that adorns the colourful Peranakan shophouse walls. Artists that took to Joo Chiat’s walls are Jaxton Su, Helene Le Chatelier, and Tell Your Children, to name a few.
Kway Guan Huat Popiah
From jaxtonjx
Artist: Jaxton Su
Location: 95 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427389
If you ask any Eastie in Singapore about some iconic places in Joo Chiat, they’ll likely point towards Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah. The stall has been selling popiah (thin pancakes) since 1938!
In fact, it’s so iconic that artist Jaxton Su paid tribute to the beloved stall by painting murals along the walls of its entrance! The murals depict the stages of making the famous popiah, from the dough making to the assembling of ingredients!
If you’ve never had popiah before, let the murals entice you to try some for yourself!
High Tide
From helenelechatelier
Artist: Helene Le Chatelier and Christine Chia
Location: 1 Koon Seng Rd, Singapore 426951
Tucked in an alleyway next to the iconic Peranakan shophouses of Koon Seng Road is the work of French artist Helene Le Chatelier and local poet Christine Chia titled High Tide. The mural depicts a huge wave with children playing.
Small spheres with scenes of waves and coasts are adorned with Chia’s poetry. The mural-slash-poetry collaboration highlights Joo Chiat’s flooding problem in the olden days.
You can find a small wooden plaque with the full inscription of Christine Chia’s poem about High Tide by the side.
A History of Healing
From singaporestreetart
Artist: Tell Your Children
Location: 341 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427593
As part of the Katong Joo Chiat Art Circuit, the artist group Tell Your Children created the heart-touching A History of Healing mural as an ode to the former site of the Joo Chiat Maternal and Child Health Clinic.
Today, the clinic is now occupied by a vintage furniture shop. The mural depicts a mother lovingly cradling her child in her arms, with a field of sunflowers in the foreground and a bird perched on a branch in the background.
Tell Your Children wanted to bring to light the significance of the former clinic, which aimed to help alleviate the increasing mortality rate in Singapore pre-World War II. The mural continues to be a poignant reminder of life’s frailty.
Dancing Peranakan Ladies
From dexarrius
Artist: Unknown
Location: Behind Rumah Bebe, 113 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428803
Very little is known about the artist behind the Dancing Peranakan Ladies mural adorning the rear entrance of Rumah Bebe, a Peranakan heritage boutique.
Rumah Bebe is a known spot for tourists who want to dive into the rich Peranakan heritage and culture of Joo Chiat, so it’s very fitting that its walls would be painted with ladies wearing Nyonya kebayas (traditional beaded Peranakan clothing).
The ladies even sport traditional beaded accessories! There’s also a Peranakan-inspired Mona Lisa portrait wearing a pink kebaya and a chef serving a large traditional Nyonya kueh (cake).
Tiong Bahru
In one of Singapore’s first public housing estates, the Tiong Bahru street art scene is heavily nostalgic. Most of the murals here, especially the ones done by Yip Yew Chong, are inspired by the daily musings of Tiong Bahru residents from the 1960s to 1980s.
Another notable street artist on our list is internationally famed Alex Face, whose signature character currently adorns the Art Porters Gallery.
Bird Singing Corner
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: 61 Seng Poh Ln, Singapore 160061
Yip Yew Chong’s influence on the street art scene of Singapore is highlighted in his iconic work at Tiong Bahru. One of the most talked about murals in his Tiong Bahru series is the Bird Singing Corner.
The mural depicts four men, lounging inside a kopitiam (local coffee house) adorned with birds chirping inside bird cages.
Yip Yew Chong aimed to capture the allure of Tiong Bahru’s coffee culture in the olden days wherein owners would beautify their cafes with birds and bird cages. It’s also fitting that the mural sits near Seng Poh Road, Tiong Bahru’s main artery.
Pasar and The Fortune Teller
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: 73 Eng Watt St, Singapore 160073
Pasar and The Fortune Teller has a lot more going in a single mural than Bird Singing Corner, and Yip Yew Chong was careful to add as many telling details as possible to depict the multi-cultural culinary tapestry of Tiong Bahru.
On the rightmost side of the mural, a vendor is cooking up laksa (Singaporean curry noodles) and two dining customers are enjoying their meal with rice cakes next to his food cart.
In the centre, another vendor is selling steamed buns in front of a “Pasar Tiong Bahru” (Tiong Bahru Market) signage. To the left, a small stand with Chinese pastries sits next to an elderly fortune teller doing a reading with his customer.
Planting The Seeds
From alexfacebbk
Artist: Alex Face
Location: 64 Spottiswoode Park Rd, Singapore 088652
Alex Face is a household name in the international graffiti scene, so when the Thai artist was invited by the Art Porters Gallery in Singapore to paint a mural on its building, the work easily became all the rage.
Alex Face’s Planting The Seeds features his signature character, a girl inspired by his daughter, wearing a Peranakan-inspired rabbit costume whilst throwing seeds on the ground.
At the time when the mural was painted, hoverboards were all the rage in Singapore, so Alex Face added it as an additional detail.
Home
From yipyewchong
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location: Eu Chin St, Singapore
Yip Yew Chong’s Home hits a bit closer to home to many Tiong Bahru residents, as the mural was made to reflect the heritage town’s origins as one of the first housing estates in Singapore.
So, as the name suggests, Home’s design was inspired by Yip Yew Chong’s own memory of his childhood home’s living room in Sago Lane, Chinatown.
The mural features traditional rattan sofa sets, an old-school television set and console, and a rotary dial next to a man taking a nap with a newspaper over his torso. According to Yip Yew Chong, many homes in Tiong Bahru are still furnished this way!
