The UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize 2025, Singapore’s first comprehensive platform for artists with disabilities, has recognised three outstanding artists: Mr Christian Tan as the overall winner, and Ms Gan Jun Huan and Mr Ling Teck Mong as runners-up.

Jointly organised by UOL Group Limited (UOL) and ART:DIS (Arts & Disability) Singapore, the biennial competition celebrates the artistic talent of persons with disabilities across all stages of practice and provides a national platform for visibility and professional development. Launched in 2023, the inaugural edition was initially open to artists affiliated with ART:DIS. This year, it welcomed all artists with disabilities in Singapore, underscoring a commitment to inclusivity and fostering diversity of creative expression. Submissions rose by around 75% from the previous edition, reaching over 570 entries from participants aged seven to seventy-eight, and representing a wide spectrum of disabilities including those with intellectual, developmental, sensory and physical disabilities.

A total of 18 recipients were honoured at an awards ceremony at ION Art Gallery, graced by Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Senior Minister of State for Education. Among them, 31-year-old Mr Tan was named the prestigious winner, receiving $20,000 and the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition. His printmaking series – Red Plumbing Set, Yellow Broom and Floor Scrubbing – transforms the humble tools of his profession as a cleaner into striking artworks using colour reduction techniques. The judges commended his ability to turn everyday objects into compelling works of art.

The first runner-up was 27-year-old Ms Gan, a deaf architecture student at Singapore Polytechnic, who received $8,000 for her vibrant works inspired by Singapore’s cultural heritage and everyday life, including Morning Memories of Joo Chiat. The second runner-up was 63-year-old Mr Ling, whose work 挑战 (Challenge) reflects resilience and composure in the face of physical limitations, drawing from his personal journey after a life-changing road accident.

Special awards were also presented to artists across other categories. The Senior Artist Award went to Ms Mimi Ng for Blooms, which blends embroidery, painting and Singapore Sign Language to create an artwork that educates and delights. The Youth Artist Award was presented to Mr Chawaphon Phungnoi for Redhill, capturing a familiar neighbourhood with precise, map-like detail, while the Child Artist Award went to Muhd Rayqal Aidan Bin Muhd Rapid for Temasik Where I Belong, a mixed media work evoking the warmth of home and National Day festivities.

Acclaimed Singaporean artist Raymond Lau received the Partner Award by ADDP Architects for Echoes of Cityscape (3), a dynamic portrayal of old shophouses nestled among towering modern buildings. While Kenneth Lee received the Partner Award by P&T Consultants for his illustration of Great City of Japan, an innovative work created with a micron marker. Both awards were sponsored by the architectural firms, marking their first collaboration in supporting this category.

UOL Group Chief Executive Liam Wee Sin said: “The UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize is more than a competition. It is a national platform that honours the unique expressions and resilience of artists with disabilities.

“We are proud to create opportunities and spaces where their voices can be  appreciated by the wider community. By expanding the prize to welcome all artists with disabilities in Singapore, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity and nurturing artistic talent at every stage of practice. Each artwork reflects their personal journeys, experiences and insights, demonstrating the rigour behind their practice and inviting us to see art from fresh perspectives.”

ART:DIS Executive Director Angela Tan said: “For many artists in our community, the UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize empowers them to share their work and stories on a national stage. This year’s expanded format has uncovered powerful new voices, with their remarkable depth of talent adding new dimensions to our arts landscape.

“This platform goes beyond celebrating artistic excellence –  it nurtures confidence, opens pathways for professional growth, and strengthens recognition and respect for the wider disability community. We believe in the power of art to transform narratives and perceptions,  and hope this exhibition shifts perspectives, and inspires action for a more inclusive future.”

The winners were selected by a panel of art experts comprising Usha Chandradas, Co-founder of Plural Art Mag; Dr Dee Chia, Deputy Director of Audience Development at the National Gallery Singapore; Emi Eu, Executive Director of STPI; Kristen Millar, Global Brand Director of NoMad; and Mr Liam Wee Sin, Group Chief Executive of UOL.

The judges noted that this year’s expanded format, which welcomed all artists with disabilities in Singapore, brought an unprecedented breadth of perspectives and artistic expression. They were impressed by the diversity and calibre of the submissions, highlighting that the winning works demonstrated exceptional skill, strong artistic vision and novel concepts.

All winning artworks will be showcased at ION Art Gallery from 4 to 14 September 2025 in the heart of Orchard Road. The exhibition will then travel across Singapore, featuring works at KINEX (6 – 12 October 2025), Velocity@Novena Square (3 – 9 November 2025), West Mall (17 – 23 November 2025), PARKROYAL on Beach Road (1 – 31 December 2025), United Square (12 – 28 January 2026) and Punggol Regional Library (1 – 30 April 2026).

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