Maya Gallery has organised more than 100 exhibitions showcasing an excellent range of work, from traditional to contemporary, and often participates in art fairs, offering a platform for Singaporean artists to present their artworks internationally. The gallery has exhibited works by prominent artists including Cultural Medallion recipients Iskandar Jalil, Sarkasi Said, and Chng Seok Tin, Hadiah Warisan (Heritage Prize) recipient Idris Ali, and UOB Painting of the Year winner (Bronze) Valerie Ng. It also actively supports emerging artists, providing them with opportunities to showcase their portfolio and build their careers.
Co-founded by Singaporean artists Jeffrey Wandly and his wife Masturah Sha’ari through a shared passion for the arts, Maya Gallery opened its doors on 12 April 2012 in historic Kampong Glam, officiated by Ms Janice Koh, then Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) for the Arts.
Some significant exhibitions include Huu Nghi: Singapore & Vietnam 50-10 Exhibition (2023) at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi, Vietnam; Idris Ali: Hitam Putih (2022); Sambal Goreng: Celebrating Hari Raya (2019); Soul Vistas: An Introspective Journey Through Our City (2017); Singapura Chantek: 5 Decades of Painting (2013) by Idris Ali; and Serba-Serbi: Contemporary Malaysian Artists (2022), a collaboration with Core Design Gallery, Malaysia.
Upholding a social responsibility and committed to dialogue, Maya Gallery has participated in many fund-raising projects for various charitable causes, and engages the public in the appreciation of art, inspiring the wider community, and greatly contributing to the country's cultural landscape.
Several awards received include: Top 10 Art Galleries in Singapore by tallypress.com (2018), Recommended Art Gallery at the Expat Living Reader Awards (2015), and Best Asian Contemporary Art Gallery of the Year by National Critics Choice (2014). It has been praised as a gallery that "has won the hearts of art enthusiasts with its locally flavored exhibitions" by mydestination.com (2014).
The gallery is currently located at 57 Genting Lane in the district of MacPherson / Potong Pasir, a historically significant area for batik production.
Maya Gallery is a trademark™ managed by Maya Arthaus Ltd, a non-profit entity dedicated to the development and promotion of visual arts in Singapore.
Masturah Sha’ari holds a MA in Asian Art Histories from Goldsmiths, University of London, through LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. Her pioneering research on the spirit of collectivism amongst the early Malay artists in Singapore underscores the important role played by art societies in the development of our art history. She had graduated with a BA majoring in Economics and Malay Studies, with a minor in Statistics, from the National University of Singapore (NUS), and also has a Diploma in Design Communication from LASALLE College of the Arts.
Masturah started her early career with International Enterprise Singapore (now ESG) as an Information Officer specialising in market and industry research, writing and publishing. She subsequently embarked on a design career, leading creative identity projects for major events such as the Ministerial Meeting at The Shangri-La; Network India; Singapore Pavillion at FoodHotel Asia; and International Trade Awards, before establishing her own independent design practice, serving an extensive international clientele, including Bosch, DHL and Gulf Air.
In 2012, together with her husband Jeffrey Wandly, she co-founded Maya Gallery, dedicated to the promotion and support of Singapore artists internationally. Through curating exhibitions, research, conducting talks and workshops, designing and publishing catalogues, collaborations, and social responsibility, the gallery has become a creative platform for artists, curators, writers and art enthusiasts for more than a decade.
Actively engaged in the art scene, Masturah serves as President of Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (APAD) or Association of Artists of Various Resources. She was appointed Chairman of Voices & Visions: Singapore Women Artists Exhibition 2021, organised by the Federation of Art Societies Singapore (FASS) and held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. She also sits in the executive committee of the Singapore Arts Federation (SAF).
With a love for art at an early age, she briefly attended art classes by APAD at Haig Boys' School, where she was taught by pioneer masters Idris Mohamed Ali and S.Mohdir, while in her first year of secondary school in the 1980s. Her next encounter with a pioneer artist was in design school in the late 1990s when the Drawing module was taught by Mr Solamalay Namasivayam, a luminary in figuration. Drawing became her forte for many years, until she painted her first abstract artwork in 2016. Since then, she has exhibited in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, including the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi, Affordable Art Fair Singapore, and Art Expo Malaysia. She also continued to design publications, the award-winning "The Mango Tree" and "Leluhur: Singapore's Kampong Gelam", winner of the 2021 NUS History Prize.
Masturah's commitment to the creative industries and the arts extends beyond the gallery and art society. She has taught design and drawing skills at the Singapore Polytechnic, worked in visitor services at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore (ICAS), mentored undergraduates at NUS, and spoken at museums and institutions.
Her dedication is inspired by her late father, Haji Sha’ari Tadin, a school teacher and principal who became the first Singaporean Malay graduate and scholar to become a Member of Parliament. Appointed as Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture in the late 1960s–70s, he is remembered for his work in the promotion of sports, culture and the arts here and abroad. In "We Also Served: Reflections of Singapore’s former PAP MPs"—a compilation of autobiographies published by Straits Times Press (2014), Masturah authored an essay on her late father's behalf, documenting his life of service as an educator, politician and community leader.
Jeffrey Wandly holds a Masters in Project Management from Queensland University of Technology. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) from the National University of Singapore. He is a recipient of the Architecture Angullia Scholarship, and the Anugerah MENDAKI (MENDAKI Excellence Award) for being the top Malay tertiary student in Singapore.
He is currently the First Deputy General Director at BIDV Tower JVC and Senior Project Manager at Guthrie. He has worked at Napier Properties and Far East Organisation. ‘8 Napier’, a luxury residential property development project which he directed while at Napier, received the BCA Construction Excellence Award (2012).
As an artist, Jeffrey captures the essence of heritage and historical landmarks with ink and acrylic on canvas. Fondly called “Building whisperer” by his collectors, he has had four solo shows, and exhibited in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam and India. His works can be found in the collections of government ministries, organisations and private individuals. He received the Best of Show Award at SeniKita by Kamal Arts Gallery in Wisma Geylang Serai (2020), Third prize (Seniors) at the Takashimaya National Student Painting Competition (1992), and Merit Award at the Singapore Tourism Board’s Saces Sculptor Competition (1980).
Jeffrey was the Executive Consultant for "Konsert Gurindam Jiwa", commissoned by National Arts Council for Silver Arts 2018, where he performed a saxophone solo alongside a 70-strong Angklung orchestra during this tribute concert to his late father Wandly Yazid, an accomplished music composer, arranger and musician in the 60s and 70s, and recipient of the Meritorious COMPASS Award in 2000.
