Malaysia’s National Art Gallery collects, preserves and exhibits the country’s visual arts. Its institutional history begins at independence, and its changing exhibitions place Malaysian artists in conversation with regional and international art movements.
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A national art gallery is more than a place to see paintings; it helps decide which stories of a country are collected and carried forward. Malaysia’s National Art Gallery was established in 1958, shortly after independence, following an initiative led by cultural figures including Mubin Sheppard and Frank Sullivan.
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- The Board of Trustees for the National Art Gallery was formed in June 1958.
- The gallery was initially allocated a government building on Jalan Ampang.
- Its current national visual arts board is responsible for collecting, conserving and promoting art.
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