SYLVIA ONG

Born in Kuala Lumpur in 1980, Sylvia Ong is a contemporary artist currently living and working in Dubai, UAE. She received a Diploma in cinematography and succeeded as a performing artist before seizing the visual art scene. She not only directed multiple TV programs, TV and radio, but also produced commercial photography and various fashion shoots for numerous high profile clients and brands.

Her aspirations go far beyond film and theatre. To Sylvia, every place, that she called home, has been a source of deep inspirations to her. This is evident in her latest pursuits as a visual artist. Swiftly, painting turned out to be an ideal new form of expression to her. Combined with her rich experience of traveling and living abroad, her art is fueled by the idea of painting as a fascinating way of communication.

"Moving to Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai allowed me to explore tropical countries, modern cities, mountains, islands, and even the desert. It's about the feeling, the general atmosphere, and sometimes the memories associated with a place. Meeting a diverse group of people everywhere has also changes me as a person, which also had a deep impact on my identity as an artist."

Same as with much of her work, Sylvia strives to inspire meaningful conversations between viewer and canvas. She renounces to create too much structure, but instead prefers a more fluid form of storytelling. This is truly becoming part of Sylvia's identity as an artist and is especially evident in her latest collection. Over the time, she has continuously invited the viewers to clear their minds and to allow her pieces to take them on a journey - not so much to arrive at a certain destination, but simply to let themselves take off.

"When I listen to music, I feel the colors and the mood as if it was a film. From this point of view, I felt the desire to create art that gives one the sense of life being a journey. The space we pass through, the time we experience: Isn't it as if we traveled along a piece of music, while following the slightest, brilliant nuance? In fact, with my paintings I would like to transport emotions, which fill the space and bring a new perspective to the world."

w o r k s

  • Abstract painting with vibrant shades of green, yellow, purple, blue, and orange, featuring swirling brushstrokes and overlapping lines.

    Dream No. 1

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • An abstract painting of green and yellow leaves with touches of purple, blue, and orange, creating a vibrant and dynamic composition.

    Dream No. 2

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling shades of blue, green, yellow, purple, and hints of red and black.

    Echoes No. 1

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling blue, green, white, and hints of purple and red brushstrokes.

    Echos No. 2

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling brushstrokes in shades of purple, blue, green, brown, and hints of yellow and red.

    Echos No. 3

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting featuring vibrant greens, yellows, oranges, and blues with sweeping, energetic brushstrokes.

    Interlude

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling strokes in pink, orange, yellow, green, and black colors.

    Journey

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling green, blue, yellow, and orange brushstrokes.

    Ouverture

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

  • Abstract painting with vibrant colors including orange, pink, green, blue, and yellow, with sweeping brushstrokes and layered textures.

    Passage No. 1

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with warm tones of orange, yellow, red, pink, with some green streaks and brushstrokes.

    Passage No. 2

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract expressionist painting with sweeping brushstrokes in shades of pink, orange, yellow, blue, and black.

    Passage No. 3

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with green, blue, and orange brushstrokes resembling a lush garden or forest.

    Reverie

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling green, blue, yellow, orange, and white brushstrokes.

    Spring Nocturnes

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

  • Abstract painting with green, blue, yellow, and orange brushstrokes, resembling a vibrant natural scene, possibly a bird's nest or a dense foliage.

    The Memory Minuet No. 2

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    150 x 150 cm l 59 x 59 inch

  • Abstract painting with swirling and overlapping strokes in shades of blue, green, purple, and hints of orange and yellow.

    Woven Dreamscapes

    2023
    Oil on canvas
    200 x 200 cm l 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 inch

Previous exhibitions

A woman with long black hair wearing a black sleeveless dress, standing in front of an abstract colorful painting.

Coming soon, Gesture & Form: Women in Abstraction, Almine Rech New York (Group)

2024, Art Basel Hong Kong, Almine Rech (Group)

2024, Frieze Los Angeles, Almine Rech (Group)

2023, Nada Art Fair, Stems Gallery (Group)

2023, Ouverture, ESMB, Paris, France (Solo)

2023, Selected Group Show, Almine Rech, Paris, France (Group)

2023, Around The Sun All Year Long, Foundry, Dubai, UAE (Solo)

2022, How Happy Are The Flowers, A/Gallery, Dubai, UAE (Solo)

2021, Selected Group Show, Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, UAE (Group)

2020, Selected Group Show, Art Connects Women, Dubai, UAE (Group)

2020, Selected Works, World Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE (Solo)

2019, La Maison, Pullman Hotel, Dubai, UAE (Solo)

2019, Women's International Group Exhibition, Chiangrai, Thailand (Group)

2019, La Maison, Silapix Art Gallery. Bangkok, Thailand (Solo)

2018, La Fête, Kalwit Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand (Solo)