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For the last two years, Round and Round Gallery ran out of a snug pair of units in Pearl's Hill Terrace, Singapore's bohemian arts enclave, where visitors squeezed elbow-to-elbow to admire handcrafted ceramics, glass and teaware between rotating exhibitions. It has since traded that intimacy for a more spacious home in Joo Chiat: a new 130 sq m space, three times the size.
Founders Deng Chao, 33, and Gu Tiantong, 32, both trained as architects before moving into art and curatorial practice, opened the gallery in March 2024. It deals in handcrafted homeware and teaware, and curates rotating exhibitions for artists across China, Japan and Singapore, building a loyal following of collectors and casual browsers alike.
The move, says Gu, was about function as much as size. "We want to do better exhibitions. We're hosting more artists now, so we need a larger space to do that properly. Once we have the room, we can experiment more with installations and how we present things," she says. The extra space also lets the gallery split into zones: part exhibition space, part living room.
"Once you walk in, we want that air of respect for the artwork. It's not just a cup, it's a story, and we want to deliver that story from the artist to the audience in Singapore," she adds.
Joo Chiat was their first choice, though Tiong Bahru was a consideration. The neighbourhood was named one of the world's coolest streets last year, and 2026 alone has brought a wave of new openings along its shophouse-lined stretch, including lifestyle label In Good Company's flagship. “We wanted to relocate to a community that enjoys lifestyle,” says Gu.
The reopening coincided with The Fire Within, a solo exhibition by Kochi-based ceramicist Teppei Ono, which ran from August 27 to 30. Ono, one of Japan's most respected contemporary ceramic artists, treats clay and fire less as materials for object-making than as a way of life and artistic practice. Alongside the show, the gallery hosted a two-day Round Table, gathering around ten ceramic, glass and craft artists from Singapore and the region to sit with Ono and talk shop.
“For Ono, conversations between makers have always been an important part of artistic practice. During his first solo exhibition with Round and Round in Singapore, we wanted to create a space not only to see his work, but also to meet through making,” the founders say.
More is planned for the months ahead. In September, the gallery will host a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Junichiro Hayashi, alongside a new concept pop-up centred on handmade clothing. This will be followed by a collaboration with a local nursery, bringing unique caudex plants into conversation with craft and everyday objects. In October, Round and Round will also collaborate with Design Shanghai to introduce works by individual designers to Singapore.
By the end of the year, the gallery will present works by wool-felt artist Aki, whose practice explores and expands the boundaries between materials. Together, these projects reflect Round and Round’s continuing interest in practices that move fluidly between art, craft and life.
It's a fitting rhythm for a neighbourhood built on wandering, and inside the gallery, the aim stays the same, says Gu. "We want people to slow down, take their time, and enjoy the process of browsing."
Round and Round Gallery's new space is located at 81 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427725. Find out more at https://roundandround.gallery/ or follow @round_and_round.gallery on Instagram.
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