A close-up view of the 'KL Art Map' - a community initiative - designed by artist Jun Kit and gallerist Liza Ho from The Back Room. Photo: The Back Room
Kuala Lumpur's art scene is rich and diverse, spanning major institutions like the National Art Gallery and Ilham Gallery to independent spaces like Lostgens’ and Rumah Lukis.
The list can be overwhelming if you're not a regular in the art scene. From Wangsa Maju to Bukit Tunku, Sentul, and Chinatown, KL's art scene spans contemporary galleries, artist-run collectives, experimental studios, and hybrid spaces combining exhibitions with retail and music.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Kuala Lumpur’s art scene but didn’t know where to start, the "KL Art Map" initiative has got you covered.
Designed by artist Jun Kit in collaboration with The Back Room gallerist Liza Ho, this simple yet essential guide brings together a wide variety of creative spaces across the city.
If you can't get the map at The Back Room gallery, you can request a digital copy via message. Photo: The Back Room KL
“We felt it was a necessity to create a map that we could share with others. We haven’t found a directory/listings of art spaces around Kuala Lumpur. We just wanted to make it as clear and concise as possible in a simple A4 sheet instead of a foldout map,” said Kit and Ho in a collective statement.
The map is designed for convenience - compact enough to slip into a bag or back pocket.
It's a two-page guide - one side features a visual map of KL with marked locations and a QR code linking to Google Maps, while the other lists art spaces, museums, and galleries with their addresses and Instagram handles.
The Back Room KL has printed it on multi-coloured paper, making each copy eye-catching, easy to carry, distribute and even pin up on a wall.
More than just a guide, the KL Art Map is an ongoing archive of the city’s creative ecosystem, making it perfect for both local and international visitors.Photo: The Back Room
“The inspiration came from a Google Map created by Singaporean curator David Chew, who had been pinning these locations for his own reference. When asked if it could be adapted into a more shareable format, he agreed, and the team behind KL Art Map expanded it from there,” they added.
More than just a guide, the KL Art Map is an ongoing archive of the city’s creative ecosystem, making it perfect for both local and international visitors. Another plus point is that there is freedom for art enthusiasts to add to the art map, as there are plenty of emerging art spaces ready to be discovered.
“It’s also a community-driven project, meaning that anyone can update and share it again in the future, ensuring the map stays relevant as the art scene evolves,” they concluded.
Want a copy? Message The Back Room KL for a soft copy, or pick up one up at the Zhongshan building in KL, where the gallery is located. Feel free to print extra copies and share them, because KL’s creative spaces are meant to be discovered, archived, and celebrated by all.
More info here.
