National Gallery Singapore has opened Lai Foong Moi: Crossings, the first solo presentation dedicated to the underexplored Nanyang artist since the 1960s.

Running from 14 August 2026 to 3 October 2027, the exhibition brings together paintings and archival materials examining Lai's artistic legacy and her portrayals of identity, gender, labor and urban life during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in Malaya, Lai graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1954 before pursuing further studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris on a French government scholarship, where she also exhibited her work.

After returning to Singapore in 1958, Lai became the first Malayan-born woman to hold solo exhibitions in Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. She later joined NAFA as an educator and taught there for more than three decades.

The exhibition traces Lai's artistic development through paintings, photographs, exhibition catalogues and archival materials, highlighting her achievements in local and international art circles and her influence as an artist and educator.

Its title, Crossings, is drawn from two paintings Lai created in 1964 and 1965. It reflects her journeys across Malaya, Singapore and Paris, as well as a period when the region was grappling with changing ideas of identity, nationhood and cultural modernity.

Lai's paintings offer a contemplative view of everyday life in Singapore during a period of rapid transformation. Her works capture quiet moments, including laborers at rest and scenes of stillness within a changing urban landscape.

The exhibition is the second edition of National Gallery Singapore's Dalam Singapore series, which highlights significant yet underexplored artists and stories from Singapore's art history.

Lai Foong Moi: Crossings is on view at Dalam Singapore, within DBS Singapore Gallery 3. General admission applies, with free admission for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.