Macau Artist Society 70th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition Opens
Nearly 200 Outstanding Works from Home and Abroad Gather in Macau
(Macao, August 29, 2026) Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government and the Macau Artist Society (MAS), co-organised by Sands China Ltd., and supported by the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, the “Art in the New Era – The 70th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition of the Macau Artist Society” held its opening ceremony today (29 August) at the Ballroom on Level 4 of Sands Macao. Officiating guests included Ms. Leong Wai Man, Representative of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government and President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau; Ms. Bai Bing, Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Mr. Wu Zhiliang, President of the Board of Directors of the Macau Foundation and President of Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau; Dr. Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd.; Mr. Sang Mudan, Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Mr. Lok Hei, President of the Macau Artist Society; Mr. Kang Sin Ung, President of Korea Culture Art Research Institute; Mr. Stanley Fung Hon Wing, President of the Hong Kong Art Club; and Mr. Lam Tian Xing, Chairman of The Hong Kong Artists Association.
In her address, Ms. Leong Wai Man remarked that over the past seventy years, the Macau Artist Society has steadfastly upheld the spirit of patriotism and love for Macau, actively participating in local cultural development and maintaining close collaboration with the Cultural Affairs Bureau. From exhibition curation to talent cultivation, from community arts to international dialogue, the Society has contributed significantly to Macau’s cultural growth. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will continue to work hand in hand with the Society to advance the building of a “Cultural Macau” and support the development of Macau as a “Base for Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.”
Mr. Lok Hei stated in his speech that since its establishment seventy years ago, the Macau Artist Society has remained committed to uniting the arts community, promoting aesthetic education, and nurturing talent, using art to bear witness to the city’s transformation and to express a deep love for the country and its people. This exhibition brings together 198 works by renowned artists from various regions, showcasing a wide range of styles and media in response to the new artistic currents of the era. Looking ahead, the Society will continue to uphold its founding principles of “loving the country and Macau, and educating through beauty,” broaden artistic connections both at home and abroad, and create platforms for the younger generation. He expressed the hope that viewers would feel the passion of seventy years and the boundless possibilities ahead through the works on display.
In his remarks, Dr. Wilfred Wong said that the Macau Artist Society has served as a pillar of Macao's arts and cultural community. Through its use of art to document Macao's evolving eras, express deep sentiments for the nation and nurture talent, the Society has made significant contributions to the continued growth of Macao's cultural and artistic sector. Sands China is deeply honoured to have built strong relationships with local artists and cultural groups through various art exhibitions and exchange programmes, working together with the Society to advance the development of Macao's arts and culture. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Macau Artist Society, Dr. Wong paid tribute, on behalf of Sands China, to generations of the Society's members and artists for their years of dedication and contributions to Macao's artistic landscape. He also extended his warmest congratulations on its platinum jubilee and wished the Society's artistic legacy continued vitality.
The Macau Artist Society is one of the oldest and largest arts organisations in Macau. For many years, it has upheld the spirit of patriotism and love for Macau, uniting the local arts community and actively promoting artistic development. This year marks the Society’s 70th anniversary, and to celebrate this important milestone, it is presenting the “Art in the New Era – The 70th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition of the Macau Artist Society,” featuring nearly 200 works by artists from the United States, France, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mainland China. The exhibition brings together diverse perspectives and showcases the vibrant vitality of contemporary art.
The “New Pathways for Macao Fine Arts” forum will be held tomorrow (30 August) at 10:30 AM at the same venue, moderated by Dr. Cheong Sio Pang, Executive Editor-in-chief of Fantasia Magazine. A panel of experts and scholars will explore art development from various angles: Mr. Chan Hou Seng, Member of the Cultural Development Consultative Committee of the MSAR, will discuss how urban aesthetics can reshape public life; Professor Mo Xiaoye, former professor at the School of Art and Design of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, will trace the interplay of Chinese and Western customs in Macau through 18th-century export paintings; Professor Ng Vai Ming, Distinguished Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of Macau University of Science and Technology, will share the new artistic pathways forged over decades by artist couple Miu Peng Fei and his wife, both senior members of the Society; and Associate Professor Ng Sao Wa from the Department of Fine Arts of the University of Macau will examine how Hong Kong ink art connects with communities and enters public discourse. In addition, over 50 experts, scholars, and artists from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Mainland China, and overseas attended the forum to discuss the future development of Macau’s fine arts, with the aim of injecting new ideas and charting new directions for Macau’s art scene through in-depth dialogue.
The “Art in the New Era – The 70th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition of the Macau Artist Society” is open from now until 15 September at the Ballroom on Level 4 of Sands Macao, with opening hours from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, including public holidays. Admission is free. For more details about the exhibition, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo or call 2853 2857 or 2836 6866 during office hours.
