Siew Hock Meng, Untitled (Portrait of a Young Woman), Undated

Oil on paper
41.5 x 34 cm (visible), 54.5 x 47.5 x 2.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

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Siew Hock Meng (Singaporean, b. 1942) is a Malaysian-born Singapore-based painter recognised for his masterful figurative and realist works in pastels, oils and watercolour. He began his formal art education at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, and after an early period of independent study and reflection on aesthetics and philosophy, he returned to painting as his lifelong calling. His artistic practice encompasses portraiture, allegorical compositions and thoughtful landscapes that reflect both regional cultures and deeper social observations.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Siew’s work has gained wide appreciation for its expressive quality and technical precision, often merging realist discipline with nuanced colour and lyrical mood. He has travelled extensively across Asia, with influences from places such as Bali, India, Myanmar and Cambodia enriching his visual vocabulary. His contributions to Singapore’s art community include active involvement with major arts societies and numerous exhibitions regionally and internationally. In recognition of his enduring impact on the arts, Siew Hock Meng was awarded Singapore’s prestigious Cultural Medallion in 2024.

(Photographed in February 2026)