Galeri PETRONAS has begun its long-awaited move to Ombak KLCC. The flagship occupant of the new mall, which opened its doors on 21 August 2026, is starting with a ground-floor preview exhibition called "The First Glimpse" that gives visitors their first look at the gallery's new multi-storey home before the full museum opens in 2027.
The move marks the end of a long era at Suria KLCC. The gallery, which was founded in 1992 at the Dayabumi Complex before relocating to Suria KLCC in 1998, closed its doors there at the end of July 2026 and is now settling into its new home on the northeastern edge of the KLCC precinct. It is the anchor tenant of a building designed by British architect Mustafa Chehabeddine, whose wave-inspired, cantilevered form sits beside KLCC Park and a short walk from the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC.
Four Floors and a Rooftop Sculpture Garden
The expanded gallery occupies four floors inside the mall, including a rooftop park dedicated to outdoor installations. Where Suria KLCC's home was a single-level gallery tucked into the shopping centre, the new space at Ombak KLCC gives the collection room to breathe, with a dedicated Galeri Cafe, a Galeri Shop and a separate art programme space that will be introduced progressively during the preview run.
"This move marks an exciting new milestone in Galeri PETRONAS' journey. More than a physical space, it reflects our continued commitment to making contemporary art more accessible to diverse communities," said Norafizal Mat Saad, Vice President of Group Strategic Relations and Communications at PETRONAS. "At its new home, we look forward to creating an inspiring environment where art connects people, sparks conversations and continues to shape new perspectives for generations to come."
What 'The First Glimpse' Shows
The preview exhibition is deliberately transitional. According to the gallery, visitors will "witness a gallery in transition, evolving through three distinct lenses: Institutional, Interpersonal and Respirational." The ground floor will continue to grow and change through the preview run, so early visitors see the space at its most raw and personal, before the full permanent exhibition takes shape.
The full gallery, scheduled to open in 2027, will spread across seven zones drawn from the PETRONAS Art Collection, one of the country's most significant corporate art collections amassed since 1993. Public tours of the upcoming permanent spaces, under development on Level 4, are expected to be announced as the phases roll out. In the meantime, the gallery is presenting a series of public programmes aimed at reconnecting with loyal audiences and pulling in a new generation of visitors to the KLCC precinct.
Visiting the Gallery
Most of the four-level gallery still sits behind doors that will open in phases, but the ground-floor preview is the part worth timing your visit around now. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and closes on Mondays. The free-flowing mall is easy to reach: take the MRT Putrajaya Line to Persiaran KLCC station (PY21) and use the direct underground link, or walk about eight minutes from the KLCC LRT station across KLCC Park.
Practical Details
- What: Galeri PETRONAS preview exhibition "The First Glimpse" at Ombak KLCC
- Dates: Opening August 2026, running through the phased launch; full gallery opens 2027
- Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Mondays)
- Venue: Galeri PETRONAS, Plaza Ombak KLCC, 20 Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
- Nearest MRT: Persiaran KLCC station (PY21), Putrajaya Line via direct link
- Price: Ground-floor preview free; permanent exhibition admission from RM 55 when it opens
- Website: galeripetronas.com
