Anthony Poon (Singaporean, 1945-2006) was a key figure in modern abstract art in Singapore. He trained at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in the 1960s and later studied at Bynam Shaw School of Art and the Royal Academy of Art in London. Returning to Singapore in the 1970s, he became known for a systematic, formalist approach to abstraction that marked a shift away from the Nanyang School's figuration.Poon first gained recognition for his Shaped Canvas series in the early 1970s, in which geometric compositions extended beyond the traditional rectangular frame. This exploration of structure and form laid the groundwork for his best-known Wave series. By the 1980s, Poon was turning these waves into relief paintings and sculptural formats, constructing canvases over curved aluminium supports to create subtle three-dimensional effects. Later, he expanded the motif into public sculptures across Singapore.
Throughout his career, Poon exhibited widely in Singapore and internationally. He represented Singapore at the 1984 Venice Biennale, and his works are today held in major collections such as the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum
