During Singapore Art Week 2026, beyond the galleries and fair halls, art is spilling into the streets, quite literally, as the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launches its inaugural Creator Residency Programme with a bold public artwork at Mondrian Singapore Duxton.

At the centre of it is the hotel’s iconic front staircase, now being reimagined as a large-scale mural by Singaporean artist tobyato and Filipino artist Jappy Agoncillo. Set beside the hotel’s instantly recognisable six-metre KAWS sculpture, the mural turns a familiar architectural feature into a living canvas, inviting passers-by, neighbours and travellers alike to experience contemporary art as part of everyday city life.

The Creator Residency Programme is STB’s newest cultural initiative, designed to showcase Singapore not just as a destination, but as a creative catalyst. Built around deep immersion rather than fleeting visits, the programme pairs Singapore-based creators with international counterparts, encouraging collaboration, exchange and discovery.

Over two weeks, five creative duos from across Asia explore Singapore’s neighbourhoods, food culture and communities, translating their experiences into original works. The pairings span disciplines and nationalities, from filmmakers and illustrators to painters and digital storytellers, all connected by a shared curiosity about place and identity.

For Mondrian Singapore Duxton, this pilot edition marks its most ambitious art collaboration to date and firmly positions the hotel as more than a place to stay. It becomes a platform where culture, hospitality and community intersect.

For the Duxton collaboration, tobyato and Agoncillo have created a site-specific mural titled Leon at Lion, a playful phrase that translates to “Lion and Lion” in Tagalog. The name nods to both Singapore’s iconic symbol and the spirit of regional exchange at the heart of the residency.

Visually, the mural brings together the artists’ distinct yet complementary styles: bold colours, graphic forms and expressive characters layered across the steps. Conceptually, it draws inspiration from “rojak”, the beloved local salad and shorthand for Singapore’s multicultural mix. Different ideas, backgrounds and visual languages come together to form something uniquely cohesive.

The result is an artwork that quite literally unfolds as you walk up or down the staircase, transforming movement through space into an encounter with art. It is designed not to be admired from afar, but to be lived with, photographed, passed by and revisited.

As tobyato puts it, the project allowed the artists to translate their shared experiences of the city into something accessible. Agoncillo adds that working in full public view made the city itself feel like part of the collaboration, with its sights, sounds and people shaping the final outcome.

The staircase mural also sits within a broader artistic ecosystem at Mondrian Singapore Duxton. The hotel is already home to an impressive contemporary art collection, including KAWS’ bronze WHAT PARTY at the entrance, works by Tracey Emin, Ian Davenport and Tyler Shields, as well as pieces by Singaporean artists Dawn Ng and André Wee.

Art extends beyond the lobby into social spaces and guestrooms, blurring the boundaries between gallery and hotel. With the addition of Leon at Lion, Mondrian further reinforces its identity as a cultural canvas, one where art is encountered casually and often unexpectedly.

In conjunction with the mural, the hotel will also introduce complimentary public art tours, held twice monthly and open to all. These guided walks offer locals and visitors a deeper look into the collection and the stories behind the works, underscoring Mondrian’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement.

Open to the public from 1 February, the mural reflects a broader shift in how art is experienced in the city. Rather than being confined to institutions, it is embedded within neighbourhoods, hotels and public spaces, encouraging discovery beyond the traditional art circuit.

For STB, the Creator Residency Programme is about storytelling and connection: showing Singapore as a place where creativity is lived, not staged. For Mondrian Singapore Duxton, it is about opening its doors and walls to the community. And for Duxton Hill, it adds another layer to a precinct already rich with history, nightlife and design.

Whether you’re visiting for Art Week, staying at the hotel, or simply walking past on an afternoon stroll, the staircase mural offers a reminder that some of the most compelling art experiences happen when you least expect them, right under your feet, in the heart of the city.

The public can register for Mondrian Singapore’s Public Art Tour here.