STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery presents Outside In, the first solo exhibition in Southeast Asia dedicated to pioneering artist Wifredo Lam (1902–1982). On view from 24 May to 13 July 2025, the STPI Annual Special Exhibition brings together over 60 works on paper from the Wifredo Lam Estate, offering rare insight into the printmaking practice of an artist who is increasingly recognised as one of the most important figures in 20th century modern art.

Wifredo Lam, nouvelle bonté, 1969, Etching with aquatint in colors on Velin Arches paper, 61 x 80.5 cm (edition). © Wifredo Lam Estate, Paris.

The exhibition highlights Lam’s renewed focus on printmaking in his later years, much of which was developed in close collaboration with renowned Italian master printer Giorgio Upiglio from 1963 to 1982. Through these prints, often created alongside leading avant-garde poets such as Aimé Césaire and Gherasim Luca, Lam crafted livres d’artiste (artist books) that reflect a deep dialogue between word and image. These collaborations capture Lam’s belief in poetry, as both method and muse in his art.

Outside In will also include a selection of prints from Lam’s Centennial Edition that collectors can look forward to — a remarkable posthumous tribute published between 1997 and 2002 that celebrates the centenary of the artist’s birth. Drawn from a set of unpublished plates that Lam had worked on during his lifetime, the prints were selected for having been signed or marked bon à tirer by the artist, an industry standard approval for workshops to commence with print runs. This 2025 edition of the STPI Annual Special Exhibition offers audiences in Singapore and the region a rare encounter with a compelling facet of Lam’s artistic practice and print legacy, one that resists definition and continues to inspire new ways of seeing the world.

Content warning: This exhibition contains mature themes that may be sensitive to a younger audience. Viewer discretion is advised.

Click here for the press pack.

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Exhibition Programme Schedule

Panel Discussion | In Dialogue with Eskil Lam, Dorota Dolega-Ritter, Phoebe Scott and Stephanie Bailey
24 May 2025
Dive into the fascinating life and practice of Wifredo Lam with Eskil Lam and Dorota Doelga-Ritter (speakers, Wifredo Lam Estate), Phoebe Scott (speaker, National Gallery Singapore) and Stephanie Bailey (moderator). Register here.

Performance | Switch

24 May 2025
Join us for a journey through poetry, music and movement inspired by pantun and Surrealism. Switch is like a living poem where each performer whispers from traditions, languages and influences to create an archipelagic soundscape. Register here.

Kitchen Lithography Workshop | Carbonated Creations

31 May or 14 June 2025
This hands-on workshop introduces kitchen lithography, an accessible technique based on the same principles as traditional lithography, inspired by Wifredo Lam’s expressive hybrid imagery. Register here.

Aquatint Workshop | Etched Layers

28 June or 5 July 2025
Try your hand at aquatint and multi-plate printing in our beginner-friendly workshop, inspired by Lam’s fusion of symbolism and abstraction. Register here.

Arty Afternoon | Pin-tastic Crafts: Foam Printed Badges

25 May, 22 June or 13 July 2025
Experiment with mark-making by impressing lines into foam printing plates, then use them as stamps to create your masterpiece. This is a free, drop-in programme. Find out more here.

Public Guided Tours

Tuesdays and Fridays: Foreign language tours
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays: English language tours
Join our expert docents for a guided tour and delve into the world of Wifredo Lam, a pioneering artist who bridged Afro-Cuban culture and Western modernism. Register here.