20 Aug Which Singaporean Artists Art Works Are Worth Collecting? — Private Art Collection Sale II
The most collectible works in Singapore’s art market are primarily centered on the leading figures of the Nanyang art movement. In particular, the works of the late first-generation pioneers Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi, Liu Kang, and Chen Chong Swee hold exceptional significance. These four masters were the founding figures and key representatives of the Nanyang School, and their contributions are of great importance to the history of Singapore art.
Equally notable are the works of the Shanghai School (Haipai) lineage in Singapore, led by master Fan Chang Tien, whose legacy was carried forward by his disciples Lin Cher Eng, Chua Ek Kay, Tan Oe Pang, and Henri Chen Ke Zhan. Their artworks are also highly sought after by collectors and remain widely celebrated in Singapore’s art scene.
钟泗宾(Cheong Soo Pieng 1917-1983) 的作品
刘抗 (Liu Kang 1911 – 2004) 的作品
Among the Second Generation of painters, renowned local artists such as Yeo Hoe Koon, Tan Choh Tee, Ang Ah Tee and Ong Kim Semg have been highly sought after by collectors in recent years. The works of talented artists such as Fan Shao Hua, Hong Zhu An, and Chua Say Hua have also been very popular. In recent years, the art market has also seen the works of Singaporean national treasure Lim Tze Peng garner collectors’ attention, with his early works that are particularly popular. Prices for his works have been steadily rising.
钟泗宾(Cheong Soo Pieng):
Cehong Soo Pieng is a representative of the Nanyang School of Painting. His works incorporates and blends Chinese Ink painting with the regional characteristics of Nanyang, forming a unique style. His work “Drying Salted Fish” was a key exhibit at the opening exhibition of the National Gallery Singapore.
钟泗滨 Cheong Soo Pieng (1917 – 1983) 的作品
陈文希(Chen Wen Hsi):
Chen Wen Hsi is another important Nanyang School painter, renowned for his depictions of tropical landscapes and animals, one of his paintings, “Two Monkeys on a Withered Vine,” was chosen for the back of the Singapore 50-dollar note.
陈文希 Chen Wen Tsi (1906 – 1991) 的作品
Yeo Hoe Koon, born in 1935 in Hainan, China, moved to Malaysia at a young age. In 1955, he entered the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore for further studies. In 1959, he went to Paris to study for three years at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
Yeo Hoe Koon’s seniors in Paris included renowned masters in the history of modern Chinese art, such as Lin Feng Mian, Xu Bei Hong, Pan Yu Liang, and Wu Guan Zhong. After graduating from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1961, he spent four years (from 1965 to 1968) traveling and studying across Europe. During this time, Yang Kejun absorbed artistic influences ranging from classicism to abstract expressionism, gradually developing his own unique abstract style.
Yeo Hoe Koon devoted over 50 years to creating his abstract works. His art is filled with surging emotions—anger, passion, sorrow, and joy—serving as a vessel for spiritual and emotional expression. His works were first discovered, purchased, and collected by Chinese collectors. In recent years, collectors have increasingly taken an interest in acquiring his pieces.
杨可均 Yeo Hoe Koon (B. 1935) 的作品
Fan Shao Hua is a Singaporean oil painter who was born in Guangzhou. He graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 1985 and moved to Singapore in 1992.
In Singapore—a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge—Fan Shao Hua, as an outsider with keen and profound observational skills, created many works reflecting the urban life in Singapore. His art has been widely recognized and praised locally, earning him a distinguished reputation throughout Southeast Asia.
In 2000, Fan Shao Hua’s oil painting “They” won the Grand Prize at the UOB Painting of the Year, a prestigious National Art competition in Singapore.
范少华 Fan Shao Hua (B. 1963) 的作品
Lim Tze Peng (September 28, 1921 – February 3, 2025) was a Singaporean artist, widely regarded as one of the most respected veteran painters in Singapore. Born in Singapore, he was exposed to Chinese calligraphy from a young age despite never receiving formal art education. After graduating from high school in 1948, he taught for 30 years before retiring in 1981 to focus fully on his passion for painting. He passed away on February 3, 2025, at the age of 103.
Lim Tze Peng’s artistic journey was filled by numerous significant milestones. In 1977, he received a Special Prize at the Commonwealth Art Exhibition in the UK, which greatly boosted his confidence.
In 2003, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest arts honor. In 2009, he became the first Singaporean artist to hold a solo exhibition in China. In 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, becoming one of the oldest recipients of this honor and standing alongside other pioneering artists.
In recent years, Lim Tze Peng’s works have been highly sought after by collectors, with the value of his artworks steadily increasing.
林子平 (Lim Tze Peng 1921 – 2025) 的作品
Phua Cheng Phue (1934 – 2004) graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. He studied under Singapore’s first-generation painter Zhong Sibin and traveled extensively with local artists Liu Kang, Chen Wen Tsi, Li Man Feng, and Chen Chong Swee to regions across Southeast Asia, India, China, and Europe to sketch and gather creative materials.
His works have been exhibited in various locations including Bali (1977), London (1977), Moscow (1978), Hong Kong (1980), Australia (1981–1985), Kaohsiung (1982), South Korea (1985), Paris (1988), and Jakarta (1993).
Phua Cheng Phue’s painting style blends Chinese ink techniques with Western oil painting methods. His subjects often draw inspiration from the cultural essence of Bali, Indonesia, imbued with strong tropical and Nanyang characteristics. He held solo exhibitions in Singapore in 1980 and 1982. In 1988, he received the Dr. Chen Zhichu Art Award. His works are part of the collection at the Singapore Art Museum.
潘正培 Phua Cheng Phue (1934 – 2004) 的作品
Ling Cher Eng (1940–1995) was a renowned Singaporean painter and a prominent disciple of the Shanghai School (Haipai). He studied under master Fan Chang Tien and became Fan’s foremost pupil and trusted protégé.
Ling Cher Eng inherited the true essence of Haipai painting. In his works—whether through brushwork, ink usage, colour application, or composition—one can clearly see the depth of traditional Haipai artistry, while also recognizing his distinct personal style. His paintings are profound and full of character, leaving lasting impressions on viewers.
Among his subjects, Ling Cher Eng’s plum blossom paintings were the most distinctive, earning him the title of “Prince of Plum Blossoms” in Singapore’s art scene.
林子影 Ling Cher Eng (1907 – 1987) 的作品
Exhibition Dates 展览日期:31 October – 2 November 2025, 11am – 8pm
Asia Art Collective and Visual Arts Centre will be presenting Private Collection Sale II on 31 October, showcasing 100 outstanding works by Singaporean and international artists. All works come from private collections and will be offered at exclusive discounts of 20%–80%. This is a rare opportunity for collectors and art lovers alike to appreciate and acquire remarkable artworks.
We warmly welcome everyone to join us for this special exhibition.
For years, Asia Arts Collective is an advisory and consultancy specialised in Singapore and Asian Modern and Contemporary Art. Professional art services include providing clients with art advice on artwork purchase and sales, artwork valuation and assessment, art acquisition and collection planning, art sale and brokerage, as well as art commissioning and artwork sourcing. Asia Art Collective seeks to promote a culture of art appreciation and art acquisition and collection for Singapore art, modern and contemporary Asian art through its diverse and rotating art exhibitions and art appreciation programmes, courses and talks. Enquire with Asia Art Collective for advice and support and on your art-collecting journey.
Contact curator for artwork consultancy: Iola Liu (90056716)
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