Meet Sok Leng, an inspiring art gallery owner driven by a heartfelt mission to preserve and honour her father’s artistic legacy. Her father is renowned Singapore second generation Nanyang artist Low Hai Hong. After he passed, he left behind over 1000 paintings. Sok Leng took a bold leap of faith and quit her job to start a thriving art gallery.
Sok Leng has also created a space for local artists to showcase their artwork, and hopes to inspire more art enthusiasts to build an art-loving community in Singapore.
What inspired you to leave your career as an accountant and embark on the entrepreneurial journey of opening an art gallery?
I started the art gallery after my father passed away. I used to be an accountant, but when he passed, he left behind many works. I felt a responsibility to take care of these works properly, which is why I started the art gallery.
What challenges did you face transitioning from the world of finance to the art industry, and how did you overcome them?
It’s definitely a different world. In the accounting world, we deal mainly with numbers, but in the art gallery world, we deal with people and paintings. However, I’ve always helped my father with his artwork, so I had some knowledge. The rest I’ve learned from fellow artists and by working hard.
How has your background in accounting helped you in managing the business aspects of running an art gallery?
My accounting background helps most in handling the finance and administrative aspects. It also gave me skills in analytical thinking and planning, which are crucial for running the gallery.
What does the legacy of your father’s work mean to you, and how do you hope to preserve and share it through your gallery?
My father’s work means a lot to me. To preserve his legacy, I’ve created a video series called My Father’s Paintings, where I record a video for each of his paintings. This is how I hope to preserve and share his legacy with the world.
My vision for Singapore is for her to become a more art-loving society, where every home has a painting by a local artist.
How do you curate exhibitions to showcase Singaporean artists?
Initially, I focused on my father’s paintings, but later, I expanded to help other local artists, especially my father’s friends. Now, our main goal is to fill Singaporean homes with local art and promote Singaporean artists.
We work with many local artists and organise pop-up exhibitions in various locations to reach a wider audience. We also host art appreciation workshops and interview local artists on YouTube to share their stories.
I understand that you rent out paintings as well, which seems to be an unique concept for an art gallery. What do you hope to achieve with this service?
One of my aims is to make art accessible to everyone. Our rental service allows people to rent art for a minimum of one month with no deposit. The rental rates are low, encouraging Singaporeans to experience having art at home. If you like the painting, you can continue renting; if not, you can return it. We hope this inspires more people to bring art into their homes.
Additionally, we run a loyalty program to encourage repeat visits to the gallery and foster a stronger art community.
What advice would you give to others considering leaving a stable career to follow their passion, especially in the arts?
You need a lot of passion because the arts industry is tough. It’s not easy to make money, so I recommend saving up and thinking carefully before leaving your job. Start part-time first to understand the challenges and gauge your passion. Be prepared to sacrifice a lot for your art.
How do you envision the future of the gallery, and what are your plans for expanding or evolving its mission?
We recently opened our new space at High Street Centre in August. Our vision is to create a community where artists, art enthusiasts and collectors can connect. We also plan to launch a fractional ownership program to make investing in Singaporean art more accessible.
What is the most rewarding aspect of running this gallery, and how has it shaped your perspective on both art and entrepreneurship?
The most rewarding aspect is helping local artists showcase their work and helping Singaporeans purchase their first local art piece. It’s fulfilling to encourage people to support local art and make it a part of their lives.
Where do you see yourself and what is your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
I plan to continue running the art gallery and expanding our initiatives. This is not an easy industry, but I will continue to push hard. My vision for Singapore is for her to become a more art-loving society, where every home has a painting by a local artist.
Connect with Sok Leng: Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and ARTualize.com.
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