We have a Long and Successful History
Established in 1989, The Art Gallery is the brain child of art philanthropist and avid art collector Dato’ Dr. Tan Chee Khuan and his late wife, Siau Bian. Although initially started off by selling Chinese ink brush paintings from China, the gallery quickly made a name in the Malaysian art community to become a prominent art gallery holding between 12 to 15 exhibitions a year by local well-known artists.
1989Since |
200+Event & Exhibition |
Dato’ Dr. Tan Chee Khuan Founder
Ms. Tan Ee Lene Gallerist
Professional, Experienced and Passionate art lovers
Due to Siau Bian’s untimely demise in late 2001 from acute myeloid leukemia, the gallery was closed in August 2002 for exhibitions. However, Dato Dr. Tan’s passion for art lives on as the gallery continues to showcase his extensive collections and is also known for making available a very wide and big selection of beautiful fine art masterpieces for art lovers who wish to invest or purchase fine art works of Malaysian artists. Upon requests by fans, The Art Gallery was revived in 2013 operating on “By Appointment” only.
After some 30-odd years of involvement in the art world, Dato’ Dr. Tan, then started his own career as an artist in 2008 and has held 4 solo exhibitions from 2009 to 2011. He continues to be the executive director of the gallery and is currently a vice-chairman of the Penang State Art Gallery committee and since 2011, advisor for the Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers auctions of Malaysian art. He continues to be a prolific writer of art books and publisher and has written many art books and articles on art, mental health and a book against beliefs in the supernatural and superstitions. These books are also available for sale at his gallery.
Since April 2016, Ee Lene, his daughter has officially taken over the management of the gallery with Dato’ Dr. Tan as her mentor. Ee Lene curates solo and group exhibitions four to six times a year, providing a platform showcasing recent works of contemporary Malaysian artists (established and emerging artists) as well as occasionally curating mini-retrospective exhibitions for local artists who have been in the art career for at least 10-15 years, to show the evolution of their work.
Showcasing Malaysian Art to the World!
Connecting People with Malaysia’s Culture
Based in Penang, The Art Gallery is redefining the experience of buying and selling art by making it easy, convenient and welcoming for both collectors and artists. We not only expand the art market to support more artists and art in the world, but also collecting and discovering art.