I have just returned from seeing the Maybank Art Collection Exhibition (MACE), titled “Held in Time, Built on Trust”, which is currently on at Balai Seni Maybank inside Menara Maybank, Kuala Lumpur. It runs until 17 April 2026, open Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm (closed on weekends and public holidays), and best of all—completely free entry. If you’re in KL and love Malaysian art, this one might be of interest to you.
This is the first time Maybank has opened up its private collection to the public. For decades, these pieces have hung quietly in offices and buildings, often just glimpsed in passing. Most were gifted by the artists themselves as thanks for Maybank’s support through programs like the Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS), which has helped over 6,399 artists and run more than 40 exhibitions over the years. The full collection has over 750 works, but MACE highlights only 90 in total, shown across three rotating cycles of 30 pieces each, over nine weeks. The setup keeps things fresh, invites you to come back, and gives a wider taste of what’s in there.
Maybank Art Collection Exhibition: Series 1
I was lucky enough to catch Series 1 (the opening cycle) with a guided tour by curator Ts. Liu Cheng Hua from the Malaysian Institute of Arts. His walkthrough really brought the pieces to life. The works I saw were mostly from the 1990s—evocative paintings capturing everyday Malaysian life, cultural roots, identity and passage of time.
Standouts included pieces by heavyweights like Ibrahim Hussein, Raja Azhar Idris, Ismail Abdul Latiff and Ismail Mat Hussin. These artists—many now major names in Malaysian art—were already making waves back in the 1990s, and seeing their works side by side gives a clear picture of how the country’s art scene was taking shape at the time.
Two more cycles are still ahead, each bringing in different works, before Maybank’s move to a new venue. It is thus a rare chance to admire these works before they are hidden again behind corporate walls.
As Izlyn Ramli, head Group Corporate Affairs of Maybank & CEO of Maybank Foundation notes in the foreword of the exhibition catalogue—this isn’t just about preserving art—it’s about sharing it thoughtfully, sparking conversations, and building connections with artists, students, and everyone who walks in. Go slow, spend time with the pieces, and let them surprise you.
Head over before 17 April 2026 – it’s free, enriching, and right in the heart of the city.
We were invited by Kakiseni and Maybank Foundation. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
