Kow Leong Kiang
Kow Leong Kiang (b. 1970, Selangor) is a distinguished Malaysian artist known for his evocative portraits that often depict local women against serene rural landscapes. Kow gained significant recognition after winning the Grand Prize at the Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards in 1998. A graduate of the Kuala Lumpur College of Art, his work captures the nuanced expressions of his subjects, often with a distinctive ‘blur’ motif that enhances the emotional depth of his paintings. Kow’s art has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Malaysia and internationally, earning him a respected place in the contemporary art scene.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Art Farmosa, G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Art Busan with G13 Gallery, South Korea.
Faceskap of Bali 2, Bazaar Art Jakarta with Syang Artspace, Indonesia.
Blue Sarong, The Whiteaways, Penang, Malaysia.
To The Sea, Ernst & Young, Singapore.
Soft, Jogja Contemporary, Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Intimate Collisions, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jogja Constellation, Tembi Contemporary, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Other People, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Silence Conservation, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Human, Red Mill Gallery, Johnson, Vermont, U.S.
The Inner Line, Metro Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Floating World, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
INTERNATIONAL SHOW / ART FAIRS
CIMB Artober Art & Soul with G13 Gallery, MITEC, Malaysia
CIMB Hotel Art Fair with G13 Gallery, Four Points by Sheraton, Malaysia
Art Moments Jakarta 2024 with G13 Gallery, Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel, Indonesia
CIMB Art & Soul with G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Art For All: Art Gala by Art Expo Malaysia with G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Art Expo Malaysia 2019 with G13 Gallery, Hotel Art Fair Bangkok with G13 Gallery, Thailand.
Art Busan 2019 with G13 Gallery, South Korea.
Art Taipei 2018 with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Hotel Art Fair Bangkok with G13 Gallery, Thailand.
Art Kaohsiung with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2017 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
Art Stage Jakarta with Sangkring Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Art Kaohsiung 2017 with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Art Taipei 2016 with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Art Stage Jakarta with G13 Gallery, Indonesia.
Art Busan with G13 Gallery, South Korea.
Art Kaohsiung, with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Art Taipei 2015 with G13 Gallery, Taiwan.
Stepping Out, Chandan Gallery and Jada Art Gallery, Art Stage, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Eye Zone, START Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK.
Cheritera- START Art Fair, Chandan Gallery at Saathi Gallery, London, UK.
Diversity – Malaysia Arts, La Galleria Pall Mall, London UK.
Hands across the Water: Post Korea Residency, Baik Art
Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.
Hands across the Water: Post Korea Residency, Gallery Nori, Jeju-Do, South Korea.
JOHOR STRAIT, Baik Art Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.
For the love of…, Jada Art Gallery, Singapore.
Panorama: Contemporary Art from Recent Asia, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore.
Kembara Jiwa, Selasar Sunaryo, Bandong, Indonesia.
Kembara Jiwa, Taman Budaya, Yogyagarta, Indonesia.
Tanah Ayer: Malaysia Stories from the Land, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandong, Indonesia.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Now & Then, Galeri Puteh, Malaysia
G13@13, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
The Artist’s Studio, Group Exhibition, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
NUDE, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
SEDEKAD: G13 10th Anniversary Exhibition, G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
FURiends: Portrayals of Cats and Dogs, G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
Human Being by F Klub, Ken Gallery, Malaysia.
3x3, Mars at Hom Art Trans, Malaysia.
Artaids Charity 2018, Malaysia.
Against the Day, A Drawing Exhibition with Our ArtProjects, Malaysia.
The Way of The Flesh, G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
Figure in a Room by The F Klub, Malaysia.
(Im)Possibilities with Galeri Chandan, Malaysia.
Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2017 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
Transit A1, MARS, Malaysia.
Artaids Charity Show 2017, Malaysia.
Artaids Charity Show, Malaysia.
Transit A2, HOM Art Trans Gallery, Malaysia.
The Monochrome Show, Nadine Fine Art Gallery, Malaysia.
5th Anniversary Show, G13 Gallery, Malaysia.
Being Human – Figuratism of Sixteen Malaysian Painters, Whitebox@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Malaysian Eye (Contemporary Malaysian Art), Whitebox@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Flesh, The FKlub, Pipal Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Naked Drawing, Segaris Art Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Spice Select 2014, Pace Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Seated, the FKlub, HOM Art Trans, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mukakata : Beyond Portraiture, Segaris Art Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Scent of Bali, The FKlub, HOM Art Trans, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Monumental: Painting From Southeast Asia, VWFA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Skin, The FKlub, HOM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Snap Shots, Art for Nature 2012, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia.
To Be Continued, VWFA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nando’s Peri-fy Your Art, Malaysia.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Art for Nature 2011, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia.
1st Festival Mail Art Exhibition, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Open Show 2001, National Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Painting Shadow, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Artistic Endeavours, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Philipp Morris Asean Art Awards, Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards Exhibition’97, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Pameran Karya Seni Kreatif Kebangsaan PNB ’97, Theatrette Menara PNB, Malaysia.
Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards Exhibition’96, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Open Show ’95, Shah Alam Gallery, Malaysia.
Open Show ’95, Shah Alam Gallery, Malaysia.
Young Contemporaries, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Open Show ’92, Shah Alam Gallery, Malaysia.
RESIDENCIES
Seoul and Jeju Island Artist Residency Program by Baik Art Gallery (Korea)
Jogja Artist Residency Program by Valentine Willie Fine Art (Indonesia)
Vermont Studio Residency Program (USA)
AWARDS
Asian Artist Fellowships, The 11th Annual Freeman Foundation, Vermont Studion Centre Award- Malaysia Winner
Grand Prize Winner, Philip Morris AseanArt Award, Vietnam
One of 5 Winners (Jurors Choice) Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards, Malaysia.
Honourable Mention, Philip Morris Art Awards, Malaysia.
Winner of the International Competition for Student Artists, Savannah College, U.S.
Honourable Mention, Young Contemporary Ink Painting, Malaysia.
Minor Award, Young Contemporaries, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Major Award, National Day Art Competition, National Art Gallery and Isetan, Malaysia.
Collection
Singapore Art Museum
National Art Gallery Malaysia
Petronas Art Gallery Malaysia