CURATING NARRATIVES

Step inside the art-filled home of Krystina Lyon and Mark Budden, showcasing a deeply personal collection of contemporary Southeast Asian works and midcentury treasures

- Yaiza Canopoli

Art historian and collector Krystina Lyon found her calling when she first immersed herself in the world of art. What started as a blooming interest became complete dedication; these days, she spends her time studying the practice of contemporary female artists in Southeast Asia, inspired by unexpected intersections. A tour of her home reveals not just a rich lineup of women artists from the region, but Lyon’s wealth of knowledge and the deep connection she has formed with every piece.

Her husband, renowned designer Mark Budden, is similarly fond of contemporary artists, having amassed his own collection of favourites in their shared home, alongside a series of mid-century Danish furniture.

The couple first met in England over 30 years ago, living out of a makeshift industrial apartment turned self-converted loft. Even back then, the hands-on pair were drawn to characterful furniture and art, beginning the collection they would ultimately relocate to Singapore around 10 years later.

Previously settled in a black-and-white house with their son, who has since left the nest, Lyon and Budden have now made themselves at home in a freehold apartment built in 1978. With a significantly smaller footprint than their previous home, the apartment couldn’t accommodate all the couple’s furniture. Nonetheless, they found a way to incorporate some of their most treasured pieces, including vintage furnishings from the 1950s and, of course, their prized artworks. Joking that their home has no room for any more art, the couple still find joy in any new piece added to the collection.