Khoo Sui Hoe Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Khoo Sui Hoe Art Value Price Guide

Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Untitled
Est: RM8,000 - RM14,000
Khoo Sui Hoe's mask-scapes are imbued with an aura of mystery and quiet repose. Masks are among the most distinctive motifs in the artist's oeuvre. In this work, a solitary mask is depicted in side profile, set against luminous washes of poetic colour that lend the composition a dreamlike and contemplative atmosphere. For more than six decades, Khoo Sui Hoe has been a practising professional artist, ever since he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961. His career is topped by a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, given by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007. Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, honoured him with another retrospective. His two-part Overview exhibition, was held in Singapore in 2015. After NAFA, he furthered his art studies at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York in 1974, under the John Rockeller III Fund. Sui Hoe, the spiritual leader of the now defunct Utara Group, had won Honourable Mention in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art and Craft competition in 1965.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Untitled
Est: RM10,000 - RM16,000
Khoo Sui Hoe's mask-scapes are imbued with an aura of mystery and quiet repose. Masks are among the most distinctive motifs in the artist's oeuvre. In this work, a solitary mask is depicted in side profile, set against luminous washes of poetic colour that lend the composition a dreamlike and contemplative atmosphere. For more than six decades, Khoo Sui Hoe has been a practising professional artist, ever since he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961. His career is topped by a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, given by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007. Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, honoured him with another retrospective. His two-part Overview exhibition, was held in Singapore in 2015. After NAFA, he furthered his art studies at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York in 1974, under the John Rockeller III Fund. Sui Hoe, the spiritual leader of the now defunct Utara Group, had won Honourable Mention in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art and Craft competition in 1965.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Villager, 1995
Est: RM5,000 - RM10,000
Khoo Sui Hoe's portraits evoke a profound emotional quality and expressiveness. Characteristic of his works, the sitter with almond shaped eyes, reflects a meditative, self-reflective state of mind. With their dreamlike quality, the portraits exude warmth and humanity, revealing the artist's deep insight of the human spirit.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Actress, 2018
Est: RM4,500 - RM8,000
Khoo Sui Hoe's portraits evoke a profound emotional quality and expressiveness. Characteristic of his works, the sitter with almond shaped eyes, reflects a meditative, self-reflective state of mind. With their dreamlike quality, the portraits exude warmth and humanity, revealing the artist's deep insight of the human spirit.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Night Crossing, 1999
Est: RM30,000 - RM55,000
The play of the three cherubic faces with mop hair is cute and brilliant with the double pair of eyes, as a water's reflection, and the children studded with saucer-shaped ears, maybe for steady grip. Behind them are two female figures with elongated necks and a nondescript expression - is it a mirror image or actually again, a reflection? Are they, is it, a symbol of Mother Earth? Whatever, both have crimson lips that emit no sound. The silence and placidity are hallmarks of the work. A phalanx of erect leaf stems acts like a protective barricade. The headline, Night Crossing, offers mystery. Why make a crossing at night? They seem poised to streak across the sky towards something bright and marvellous when daylight comes. In 1999, the artist Khoo Sui Hoe had visited Mexico City and climbed the Teotihuacan Pyramid. Could his already developed figure types be refined by the pre-Columbian artefacts he saw there? Khoo Sui Hoe died in Arkansas, the United States on May 31, 2026, a great loss to the art scene! Khoo Sui Hoe, arguably one of the first fulltime artists in Malaysia, was the spiritual leader of the northern artist's group called Utara formed in 1977. He was accorded a Retrospective by the Penang State Art Gallery called The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe in 2007. He had two mini retrospectives, given by Soka Gakkai Malaysia in August 2017, and The Art Gallery Penang in 2013. Khoo graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961, and had his first solo, at the British Council in 1965. He studied at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York under the John D Rockefeller Fund in 1974. He held a two-part Overview exhibition at the Private Museum in Singapore in 2015. He had a stint as a gallerist at the Alpha Gallery Singapore in the early 1970s, and the Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang in 2004. His early career was capped by his selection for exhibitions like the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st and 4th Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968 and 1978); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970); and the Contemporary Paintings of Malaysia exhibition at the Asia-Pacific Museum in Pasadena, California, in 1988. Few of his masterpieces are currently on display at the prestigious National Gallery Singapore, at prominent positions.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Coo-Coo On Top, 1977
Est: RM45,000 - RM80,000
Two heads are better than one, but this head (baby face) stacked above another head called Coo-Coo On Top (1977) is just Khoo Sui Hoe's playful lark amidst Nature, with glimpses of a land far far away and the changing light of the sky. A segment of an otherwise perfect spherical moon sits on the top edge of the canvas like a hung chandelier. This head-on-top-of-head, sometimes overlapping, is one of the favourite imageries of Sui Hoe since the 1960s. The bottom head is shown partly submerged in water or with the water's edge at neck or half-body level. Isolated by itself, it suggests a nocturnal play-time of a mother and her young offspring. A 1978 work from the same series, there is a self-explanatory Flying Coo-Coo (1973), so it's not able head stackings. Coo-Coo Riverside, sold for HK$125,000 (RM 59,374) at Christie's Hong Kong in May 2015. Sui Hoe's record was set at the Henry Butcher January 2026 auction, with a premium of RM 95,200, with the artwork Lakeside Posture, 1977, a rare masterpiece of absolute quality. Khoo Sui Hoe won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo is a rare artist with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967-2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at Help Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963-1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Sui Hoe won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Bathers Changing, 1966-1999
Est: RM30,000 - RM55,000
Khoo Sui Hoe occasionally painted bathers, somewhat symbolic of the once-popular mandi safar ritual performed on a certain Wednesday, but usually as a private affair, and a bonding between a couple, as in this composition. The male is draped in a chequered sarong, for decorum, and the female is swathed in an ambiguous veneer. The subject also evokes Rembrandt's iconic A Woman Bathing In A Stream, while locally, there is Dato' Hoessein Enas' Morning Mist, five in number, of nubile maidens in figure-hugging wet sarong by the waterfall. Sui Hoe's bathers is about intimacy and trust and the old kampung habit of washing oneself by a stream, rarely waterfall, before the luxury of modern bathrooms. It's also about nostalgia about once upon a time Malaya where coconut palms swayed and buffaloes roamed. "I painted human figures with backdrops of Nature. I invite sun, moon, star, cloud and horizon to enter my painted world. Such backdrops also evolve to become specific landscape pieces," Sui Hoe had intoned. Khoo Sui Hoe died in Arkansas, the United States, on May 31, 2026, a great loss to the art scene! Khoo Sui Hoe, arguably one of the first fulltime artists in Malaysia, was the spiritual leader of the northern artist's group called Utara formed in 1977. He was accorded a Retrospective by the Penang State Art Gallery called The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe in 2007. He had two mini retrospectives, given by Soka Gakkai Malaysia in August 2017, and The Art Gallery Penang in 2013. Khoo graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961, and had his first solo, at the British Council in 1965. He studied at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York under the John D Rockefeller Fund in 1974. He held a two-part Overview exhibition at the Private Museum in Singapore in 2015. He had a stint as a gallerist at the Alpha Gallery Singapore in the early 1970s, and the Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang in 2004. His early career was capped by his selection for exhibitions like the Commonwealth Art Today in London (1962-1963); Malaysian Art touring Europe (1965-1966); 1st and 4th Triennial of Contemporary World Art, New Delhi (1968 and 1978); the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969); and Man And His World in Montreal, Canada (1970); and the Contemporary Paintings of Malaysia exhibition at the Asia-Pacific Museum in Pasadena, California, in 1988. Few of his masterpieces are currently on display at the prestigious National Gallery Singapore, at prominent positions.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 09, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe | Sunset Couple Reflections, 1976
Est: RM30,000 - RM55,000
Educated at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Khoo Sui Hoe was among the earliest established art practitioners in Malaysia. His works are very poetic, transporting the viewer into a dream state. Notable and commanding are his choice of bold, emotive colours that are melodious and rich in hues. Influenced by the post impressionists, symbolists, and surrealists, his stylized figures are imbued with a sense of mystery and enchantment. He bridges the real and imaginary in this composition through the depiction of a couple floating above a lake surrounded by a red enigmatic landscape. One of the faces is depicted in profile, a hallmark of the artist's unique style. The reflections in the water enhance the atmosphere of the scene to create a tranquil effect. Love is in the air, romance at its peak, such is true love, where the two become one! For more than six decades, Khoo Sui Hoe has been a practicing professional artist, ever since he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore in 1961. His career is topped by a Retrospective, The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, given by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007. Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, honoured him with another retrospective. His two-part Overview exhibition, was held in Singapore in 2015. After NAFA, he furthered his art studies at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York in 1974, under the John Rockeller III Fund. Sui Hoe, the spiritual leader of the now defunct Utara Group, had won Honourable Mention in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art and Craft competition in 1965. It is a great loss to the art scene when Khoo Sui Hoe passed away on 31 May, 2026.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 02, 2026
KHOO SUI HOE | Still-life flower
Est: S$800 - S$1,200
KHOO SUI HOE Malaysian, b.1939 Still-life flower oil on canvas signed and dated '79 lower right with inscription of title, medium, size and dated 1979 verso
33 Auction
Apr. 26, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe - To Catch A Bird, 1981-2006
Est: RM26,000 - RM50,000
It's foolhardy to think that you can catch a bird with your bare hands, unless if the bird is badly injured or has wings that could not fly. Khoo Sui Hoe has done several versions on this theme, with the type of bird and the numbers varying. Birds have chirped into his composition since as early as 1965, with it being reduced to a simple shade (Bird Greetings, 1978), and then in 1999 Sunset Solitude, the bird still in profile has been given an eye, a nice beak and a little colour to the otherwise monotonous body. It springs from his childhood memories of playing in the padi fields and rivers. Like a crocodile, the two children lie still submerged in water with only part of the head showing, with the open palms on top of the head on the hope that the bird would somehow perch on them. Futile maybe, but it's a fun way for a child to while away the hours. A bird stands for freedom, but to a child, a bird in hand brings out a grown man's lust of possession, never mind if he (the child) knows how to maintain it. Sui Hoe helped set up the Utara Group in 1977. In 2004, he set up the Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang based on the Alpha Gallery he set up in Singapore in 1972. His major retrospective, the Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, was accorded by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007. Other retros followed by The Art Gallery Penang in 2013 and Soka Gakkai Malaysia in 2018, besides a two-part Overview exhibition in Singapore in 2015.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 26, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe - The Crescent Moon, 1977
Est: RM30,000 - RM60,000
Time stands still in Khoo Sui Hoe's idyllic world, a carefree time with the ole world charm set in pastoral settings. The serenity, the harmony and the balance in perpetuity as seen in this 1977 Crescent Moon (there is a 1996 landscape with a similar title). Noted for placing figures in landscapes, usually in twosomes of different gender, Sui Hoe adds the added constancy of the moon, here crescent and unrounded with the crescent or hilal construed as a key symbol of Islam, marking the start of Ramadan. It is a spiritual awakening, a new beginning, with the figures juxtaposed on top of each other, placed on opposite ends with the head on either side. You find the rhapsodic lyricism of Chagall, that is why the great Frank Sullivan dubbed Sui Hoe "a poet in paint". For more than six decades, Khoo Sui Hoe has been a practising professional artist, ever since he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore in 1961. His career is topped by a Retrospective, The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, given by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007. Wisma Soka Gakkai Malaysia, honoured him with another retrospective. His two-part Overview exhibition, was held in Singapore in 2015. After NAFA, he furthered his art studies at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York in 1974, under the John Rockeller III Fund. Sui Hoe, the spiritual leader of the now defunct Utara Group, had won Honourable Mention in the Salon Malaysia in 1969 and 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art and Craft competition in 1965.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jan. 18, 2026
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Lakeside Posture, 1977
Est: RM26,000 - RM46,000
The hills are alive with the sound of music. You are never alone when you are amidst Nature, on top of the world as it were. Khoo Sui Hoe solitary figure even looks like Mother Nature personified, with the trellis of triangles in her dress symbolic of mountainscapes, reinforcing the spirit of the free. All the pulchritude of the natural world, alas, will be spoilt by Man's avarice and vainglorious bid to OutNature Nature, to turn Nature into a hideous âresort' playground for lucre and vanity. This is a rare masterpiece of absolute quality. Khoo Sui Hoe will always be known as the spiritual leader of the Alpha Group (1977) whose influence spans across the causeway. His high point was when he was given a Retrospective in 2007 by the Penang State Art Gallery. Called The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, it cemented his professional career since he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961. He followed it up with a mini-retrospective at The Art Gallery Penang (2013) and Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia (2017). He furthered his studies at Pratt in New York under the John D. Rockefeller III Fund award. He helmed the Alpha Gallery in Singapore (1972) and then again in Penang (2004), under Alpha Utara. Many of his early works are currently on display at the prestigious National Gallery Singapore at prominent positions.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 09, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Three Reflections, 1976
Est: RM24,000 - RM44,000
In Three Reflections, Khoo Sui Hoe's signature mask-like figures emit a sculptural presence, complemented with a mirror like symmetry. Though the primitive faces are modelled with minimal forms, the artist imbues them with a lifelike presence, enhanced with the use of playful colours. The reflective qualities of water appears throughout his compositions, allowing him to experiment with a wide variety of forms. Khoo received his education at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery. His 59th solo exhibition Recent Works by Khoo Sui Hoe was held in 2024.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 09, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Standing Bathers, 1980
Est: RM24,000 - RM44,000
Throughout Khoo Sui Hoe's oeuvre, the theme of water and rivers have been a constant source of inspiration. In Standing Bathers, three mysterious primitive figures emerge from a landscape painted in luxuriant greens, surrounded by reflective surfaces of water. The painting evokes a dreamlike ambience, and the figures appear sculptural through his masterful handling of light and shadow which gives them a strong presence. The soft greens in the landscape suggests a quiet return to nature, while the water reflections and ripples convey a sense of movement and tranquillity. Khoo received his education at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery. His 59th solo exhibition Recent Works by Khoo Sui Hoe was held in 2024.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 20, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Untitled, 1990s
Est: RM9,000 - RM16,000
Though this abstraction is composed only of neutral colours, Khoo Sui Hoe imbues the image with a rich atmospheric effect. Light washes of colour were applied to depict a timeless and calm image. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at Help Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 20, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Untitled, 1990s
Est: RM9,000 - RM16,000
Khoo Sui Hoe's landscapes, like his surreal figures are imbued with a meditative quality. Experimenting with rectilinear shapes, his landscapes allow us to visualize nature from a fresh perspective. This composition gives special emphasis on the mountains viewed from a distance. Khoo Sui Hoe reinterprets the natural landscape into salient forms with crisp edges, complemented with a frame in which he tints the forms with saturated cool tones. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at Help Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 20, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) The Beach Boy, 1979
Est: RM30,000 - RM50,000
The enigmatic works of Khoo Sui Hoe are rendered in an Expressionist style, a 20th century movement that places emphasis on self-expression through abstracted forms and strong colours. The Beach Boy is imbued with a sense of fantasy, inspired by reflections of childhood memories. It is finely modelled with brushstrokes, depicting a boy with arms wide open enjoying the sea breeze, carrying a striped piece of fabric that conveys movement. Most of Khoo Sui Hoe's works convey a sense of freedom. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at Help Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 20, 2025
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Transcendental, 1991
Est: RM22,000 - RM38,000
Transcendental depicts the mind entrenched in the realm of the unconscious, delving infinitely into the depths of intuition and dreams. With eyes closed in contemplation, the figure's face subtly lit from the side evokes a peaceful atmosphere. Framed by repeated rectilinear shapes, a modulation of tranquil colours was used to create an illusion of space. Varying brushstrokes were applied to enhance the atmosphere, and the texture of the surface. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at Help Institute in 1992 and Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 23, 2025
KHOO SUI HOE : Bathers’ 6
Est: RM38,000 - RM70,000
In Bathers’ 6, vibrant hues and dynamic brushstrokes capture the essence of figures immersed in water, embodying the joy and freedom of summer days. The interplay of colour and form creates a lively atmosphere, inviting viewers to experience the serenity of the scene. Khoo’s works merge images with familiar landscapes, integrating surrealism with abstract elements. He specifically emphasises certain details to show expressionistic hints. He is well-known for his landscapes, mask-like faces, natural shapes and objects, both figurative and imaginative, all of which are full of emotional power. The fascinating images, colours, styles and themes painted with joy on his canvas create simple yet refreshing worlds.
KLAS Art Auction
Jan. 19, 2025
KHOO SUI HOE | 4 Clouds
Est: S$6,000 - S$8,000
86 x 99 cm; 87 x 100 cm (with frame) oil on canvas signed Sui Hoe 71 lower right Provenance: Private collection, Singapore 丘瑞河《四朵云》1971年作油彩画布款识：SUI HOE 71（右下）
33 Auction
Jan. 19, 2025
KHOO SUI HOE | Bridge
Est: S$5,000 - S$7,000
95.5 x 79 cm; 97.5 x 81.5 cm (with frame) oil on canvas signed Sui Hoe 73 lower right Provenance: Private collection, Singapore 丘瑞河《桥》1973年作油彩画布款识：SUI HOE 73（右下）
33 Auction
Oct. 27, 2024
KHOO SUI HOE : Taking, 1990
Est: RM5,000 - RM9,000
Conversely, Taking presents a more contemplative moment, where the figure painted engages in quiet interaction, reflecting on the complexities of human relationships. Khoo Sui Hoe’s works contain symbolic configurations that correspond to the dreamlike, unconscious state of mind.
KLAS Art Auction
Oct. 27, 2024
KHOO SUI HOE : Bathers’ 6
Est: RM25,000 - RM38,000
In Bathers’ 6, vibrant hues and dynamic brushstrokes capture the essence of figures immersed in water, embodying the joy and freedom of summer days. The interplay of color and form creates a lively atmosphere, inviting viewers to experience the serenity of the scene. Khoo’s works merge images with familiar landscapes, integrating surrealism with abstract elements. He specifically emphasises certain details to show expressionistic hints. He is well-known for his landscapes, mask-like faces, natural shapes and objects, both figurative and imaginative, all of which are full of emotional power. The fascinating images, colours, styles and themes painted with joy on his canvas create simple yet refreshing worlds.
KLAS Art Auction
Aug. 25, 2024
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Deepavali, 1995
Est: RM2,000 - RM3,500
The religious festival Deepavali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. In Deepavali, Khoo Sui Hoe's expression of the festival is reflected in a calming expression with a pair of soft eyes and lips with a smile. The artist employs unique textures and shadows, giving the face a sculptural quality and weight. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo was honoured with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Datuk Seri Lim's Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 26, 2024
KHOO SUI HOE : Vase Flower, 1984
Est: RM18,000 - RM25,000
“Vase Flower, 1984” by Khoo Sui Hoe is a mesmerizing masterpiece that captures the essence of nature’s beauty in full bloom. In this stunning artwork, Khoo skillfully renders a bouquet of vibrant flowers cascading from an intricately adorned vase. Each petal and leaf is delicately painted with meticulous detail, imbuing the composition with a sense of lifelike vitality. The bold use of color and dynamic brushwork infuses the scene with a captivating sense of energy and movement, while the interplay of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the floral arrangement. “Vase Flower, 1984” is a testament to Khoo’s mastery of the medium and his ability to evoke a sense of joy and wonder through his art.
KLAS Art Auction
May. 19, 2024
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Nude Swim, 1999
Est: RM25,000 - RM45,000
The horizontal veneer s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s the mood of melancholy and solitary bliss with a female nymph skinny-dipping on her side half-exposed front facing viewer. The model has a vacuous look, which diminishes any sense of sensual allure, though the luscious red lips are inviting. This is typical of Khoo Sui Hoe's somewhat awkward posture in a surreal landscape, an island in the mid-distance in what looks like a large lake. Sky, land and water. And nubile woman. In a placid setting playing on reflections, showing a strange affinity with Nature. American-based Khoo Sui Hoe was honoured with a major Retrospective, The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007, followed by a mini Retrospective, given by Soka Gakkai Malaysia, in 2017. He was also given a mini-retrospective (1963-2013) by The Art Gallery Penang in 2013. He was accorded a two-part An Overview exhibition at the Private Museum, Singapore, in 2015. Sui Hoe has been a cult artist hero of sorts, becoming a full-time artist immediately after graduating from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore in 1961. He also started as a gallerist, first with the Alpha Gallery in Singapore in 1972, and revived later in Penang as the Alpha-Utara Gallery in Penang, in 2004.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Feb. 04, 2024
KHOO SUI HOE : Little Couple - Moon River, 1978
Est: RM25,000 - RM35,000
Khoo Sui Hoe (1939) is an American-based artist born to a fine tailor and homemaker in Kedah, Malaysia. His childhood aspirations of being a journalist led to his ventures outside of Malaysia, and across the border into Singapore, where he received his initial formal art education at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1959 as apprentice to renowned pioneer artists Georgette Chen, Cheong Soo Pieng and Lai Foong Moi. Furthering his studies in the Pratt Graphic Centre, New York, Khoo’s works are a harmonious fusion of Western influences and British Malaya (Singapore and Malaysia before independence) cultures. An avid traveller, Khoo had the opportunity to engage in intellectual discourse and exchanges with other artists and patrons, broadening his horizon as a documentary painter of communities. His artworks thus serve as documentation of his constantly evolving environment as he travels to other countries like Japan and Thailand.
KLAS Art Auction
Jan. 14, 2024
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Posing By The Beach, 1977
Est: RM35,000 - RM55,000
Gravity-defying feats are performed with the mind in a state of blissful ecstasy in solitude amidst the salubrious surroundings of Nature. Curvilinear blobs help soothe a transition to tranquillity while a sinuosity suggests smooth movements. When in this exalted state, there is a weightlessness about as the mind soars unfettered, to achieving a new equilibrium. Even the clouds, creamy yellow and like puff balls, assume curvaceous body. Such dreamy seances from the pale lime green of the figures, male and female, floating as if levitated, eyes closed seemingly disparate, yet bound by the intimacy of telepathy. The surreal landscapes of the mind is like no other landscapes known to man. This work was painted in Penang, where Khoo Sui Hoe had his first solo at the British Council in 1965, and where he had set up temporary base since 2004, in between his time in Jacksonville in the United States. Khoo Sui Hoe is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was a fulltime artist since graduating from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, in 1961. He was awarded the John D Rockefeller III Fund to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York in 1974. He was accorded a Retrospective, The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe, by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007, and later another by Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, Kuala Lumpur. There were mini retros of sorts, given by the Penang Museum Board, in 1978 (works from 1963-1973) and The Art Gallery Penang in 2013 (works from 1967-2013). In 2015, Khoo held a two-part An Overview exhibition, in Singapore. He won Honorable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. He was in charge of the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which he revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery. He was included in the Contemporary Paintings of Malaysia exhibition at the Pacific Museum in Pasadena, California, in 1988.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jul. 09, 2023
KHOO SUI HOE : Boys with Bird, 1965
Est: RM25,000 - RM55,000
In this particular work of Khoo Sui Hoe, ‘Boys with Bird, 1965’, the figures in the foreground are distinct for the artist’s use of light and shadow to define the characters. The painting evokes a sense of contentment to be found in companionship and the figures are portrayed to be in harmonious balance within their landscape. Khoo Sui Hoe was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has played a vital role in nurturing other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won various awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum.
KLAS Art Auction
Mar. 19, 2023
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Three Standing In Water, 1973
Est: RM30,000 - RM50,000
Like water nymphs, the figures emerge from the waters with the forefront dominated by red reeds flowing right. Interestingly, the faces of the 'three' figures could be poised frontal and in left and right profiles (side portraits). The side configurations are sharply etched, in contrast to the calm and composure under water despite the tide tug. The water element has a cathartic symbolism and Khoo Sui Hoe's figures are usually shown with an affinity with Nature. The tall aquatic reeds found in wetlands have practical uses, like for making flutes and thatching for old huts. Instead of green reeds, he painted red reeds. Sui Hoe's figures are enigmatic, yet simple. The British writer Austin Coates once wrote: "The peculiar quality of Khoo Sui Hoe's art is that it is withal not simply beautiful but in its own domain, entirely real." One of the first to go fulltime in art, Khoo Sui Hoe is somewhat a folk hero among artists. After his tutelage at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, he got a John D. Rockefeller III grant to tour the United States, where he took the opportunity to study printmaking at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York (1974). He is best known as the prime-mover behind the Utara group of artists in 1977, and had a stint as a gallerist in Singapore (Alpha Gallery) and later, Penang (Alpha Utara). When Sui Hoe was accorded a Retrospective by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007, he already had several solos in the United States, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. In the 1960s, he was selected for major exhibitions such as the 1st India Triennial (New Delhi, 1968) and the 10th Sao Paulo Biennial (1969), while his works are in the national collection touring Australia and Europe, besides the Malaysian Art 1965-1978 (Commonwealth Institute, London). He had also been given a Retrospective at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, Kuala Lumpur, and a mini-Retros at The Art Gallery Penang (2013).
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 05, 2023
KHOO SUI HOE : Two Standing Between Leaves, Jan 1979
Est: RM25,000 - RM55,000
Khoo Sui Hoe was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has played a vital role in nurturing other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won various awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum. ‘Two Standing Between Leaves’ is a sublime body of work with two silhouettes of subjects in the epicentre illustrated amid nature, representing the leaves. Peace also seems to be the underlying theme with the artist’s use of green and his hallmark of rounded lips on the subject.
KLAS Art Auction
Dec. 04, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE | Rainbow
Est: S$7,000 - S$10,000
89 x 75 cm ; 97 x 83.5 cm (with frame) acrylic on canvas, framed signed lower right 丘瑞河《无题》亚克力画布画框款识：Sui Hoe (右下) Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6R6GQU/khoo-sui-hoe-rainbow
33 Auction
Dec. 04, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE | Brown rock
Est: S$7,000 - S$10,000
90 x 90 cm ; 98 x 98 cm (with frame) acrylic on canvas, framed signed lower right 丘瑞河《无题》亚克力画布画框款识：Sui Hoe (右下) Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6R6GQS/khoo-sui-hoe-brown-rock
33 Auction
Sep. 18, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE | Untitled
Est: S$2,000 - S$3,000
61 x 61cm ; 82 x 72 cm (with frame) watercolour on paper, framed signed lower right 丘瑞河《无题》水彩纸本画框款识：Sui Hoe（右下） Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6EP6X1
33 Auction
Sep. 18, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE | Untitled
Est: S$1,500 - S$2,000
38.5 x 37.5 cm ; 48.5 x 47 cm (overall paper) mixed media on paper, framed signed and dated 70 lower right 丘瑞河《无题》1970年作综合媒材纸本画框款识：Sui Hoe 70（右下） Bid online at https://auctions.33auction.com/lots/view/1-6EP6WZ
33 Auction
Aug. 28, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE : Little Swimmer, 2005
Est: RM20,000 - RM35,000
Khoo Sui Hoe was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has played a vital role in nurturing other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won various awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum. Little Swimmer is a sublime body of work with a small boy in the epicentre who looks as if he is carefree represented by a medley of green hues. Peace also seems to be the underlining theme with the artists use of green and his hallmark of rounded lips on the subject.
KLAS Art Auction
Jul. 17, 2022
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. Kedah, 1939) Match Maker, 1995
Est: RM16,000 - RM26,000
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match Find me a find, catch me a catch... The familiar refrain from the Matchmaker song in the 1971 film adaptation, Fiddler On The Roof, would have conjured different faces of Yenta the wizened matchmaker, according to ethnicities and cultures. Matchmaking in its traditional forms, xiangqin in Chinese, and the tukang risik in Malay, is passe, of course, but the digital revolution has provided singles with opportunities from dating agencies, including the more creative ‘Lunch Actually’. For the artist Khoo Sui Hoe, his stereotyped matchmaker is one with a deadpan face, rouged cheeks and rosy lips but one can sense her years. Perhaps, traditional matchmaking was practiced in the generation of his parents, but as a youth, he had struck out on his own from then agrarian Kedah to Penang and Singapore and eventually, the United States.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jul. 17, 2022
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. Kedah, 1939) Fishing, 1960s
Est: RM13,000 - RM23,000
Unlike the usual style of the artist this landscape depicts a steady rhythm of nature. With a boat seen floating on the river amidst the green ambiance, the person was indulging himself in his fishing activity, quietly, calmly, and patiently. Khoo Sui Hoe has been an artist all his life, defying conventions from the time he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore (1961) to his studies at the Pratt Institute in New York (1977), under the John D. Rockefeller III Fund Award. His accolades include Honourable Mention in the 1969 Salon Malaysia and twice the Asian Arts Now Awards (Las Vegas, 2002, 2004). He founded the Alpha Singapore Gallery (1972) and then the Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang (2004) but is best known for founding the Utara Group in 1977. He was honoured with a Retrospective called The Painted World of Khoo Sui-hoe, by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007, and he had a mini reprisal at the Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. He also held a book launch at PAM (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) in 2017. He resides between Jacksonville, Arkansas, USA, and Penang, Malaysia.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 29, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE : Two Dancers, 1995
Est: RM35,000 - RM65,000
In this particular work of Khoo Sui Hoe, the two faces in the foreground are distinct for the artist's use of light and shadow to decline the characters. The painting evokes a sense of contentment to be found in companionshop and the figures are portrayed to be in harmonious balance. Khoo Sui Hoe was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has played a vital role in nurturing other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won various awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awarsds (twice) given by the Last Vegas Museum.
KLAS Art Auction
May. 29, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE : Dayak Bride, 1995
Est: RM12,000 - RM17,000
Khoo Sui Hoe was born in 1939 in Kedah and is one of Malaysia’s foremost artists who graduated from the prestigious and highly reputable Nanyang Academy of Art in Singapore. He also studied in the United States where he obtained his education through the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York back in 1974. Khoo’s talent doesn’t go unnoticed as he has won first prize in the Oil, Malaysian Art and Craft competition in 1965, received an honourable mention in the Salon Malaysia Art competition in 1969, received the Certificate of Merits, Asian Art Now, and has had his work showcased at the Las Vegas Art Museum in 2002 and 2004.
KLAS Art Auction
Mar. 27, 2022
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. Kedah, 1939) Warrior, 1995
Est: RM4,300 - RM6,800
In Warrior, Khoo Sui Hoe captures a figure that poses a calming expression with a pair of attentive eyes. Eyes that are always on alert lookout on the surroundings. The work is further enhanced by a colorful background with rainbow-like colours. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo is a rare artist with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Datuk Seri Lim’s Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 adds to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Feb. 20, 2022
KHOO SUI HOE : Boys with Bird, 1965
Est: RM38,000 - RM75,000
In this particular work of Khoo Sui Hoe, ‘Boys with Bird, 1965’, the figures in the foreground are distinct for the artist’s use of light and shadow to define the characters. The painting evokes a sense of contentment to be found in companionship and the figures are portrayed to be in harmonious balance within their landscape. Khoo Sui Hoe was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has played a vital role in nurturing other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won various awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum.
KLAS Art Auction
Dec. 05, 2021
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. Kedah, 1939) Encounter, Riverside, 1978
Est: RM32,000 - RM52,000
Sweet dreams are made of these… two figures in apparent levitation. Eternal bliss. Good things come in pairs, as in the Chinese adage, in the cusp of Nature – Land, Sea, Mountain and Sky – what more framed by a circle. The wavy sinuous lines make for both slumber and reflection: soothing and therapeutic. When one is in love, when one is in ecstasy, one can fly. Echoes of R. Kelly’s sonorous strains of I Believe I Can Fly. I Believe I Can Fly I Believe I Can Touch The Sky. Human flotsams are one of Khoo Sui Hoe’s favourite devices recalling somewhat Marc Chagall’s rhapsodic lyricism of a world with nary a care in his native Vitebsk. But happiness is not about self-flagellation: it needs the conjunction of a partner, someone to share it with, to celebrate and cavort, to fulfil one’s existence. While the two figures seem caught in one’s own world, the consummate moment is when the twain meet. Though it’s still bliss if the two were to be lost in eternity, wrapped in the cosy cocoon. Khoo Sui Hoe is an artist all his life, defying conventions from the time he graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore (1961) to his studies at the Pratt Institute in New York (1977), under the John D. Rockefeller III Fund Award. His accolades include Honourable Mention in the 1969 Salon Malaysia and twice the Asian Arts Now Awards (Las Vegas, 2002, 2004). He founded the Alpha Singapore Gallery (1972) and then the Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang (2004), but is best known for founding the Utara Group in 1977. He was honoured with a Retrospective called The Painted World of Khoo Sui-hoe, by the Penang State Art Gallery in 2007, and he had a mini reprisal at the Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. He also held a book launch at PAM (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) in 2017. He resides between Jacksonville, Arkansas, USA, and Penang, Malaysia.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Oct. 03, 2021
KHOO SUI HOE : Couple in Love, 1990's
Est: RM75,000 - RM100,000
Blissfully expressionistic, Khoo Sui Hoe manages to bring balance and uniqueness into his artworks. Khoo Sui Hoe’s world is one of enchantment and mysticism, nature and magic. The mood is filled with romanticism, as two faces or masks that symbolise a couple, are in love. Born in 1939 in Baling, Kedah, he studied at Singapore’s prestigious Nanyang Academy of Art and then at the Pratt Graphic Center in the US. He was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has helped promote other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won a lot of awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum.
KLAS Art Auction
Sep. 29, 2021
Khoo Sui Hoe *1939
Est: CHF3,000 - CHF4,000
RefMod17921 Khoo Sui Hoe *1939 Boys with bird, 1965 Öl auf Hartfaserplatte oben links signiert und datiert SUI-HOE 65 rückseitig auf Künstler-Etikette bezeichnet Boys with Bird 56 x 83,5 cm
Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer
Sep. 06, 2020
KHOO SUI HOE : Couple in Love, 1990s
Est: RM75,000 - RM100,000
Blissfully expressionistic, Khoo Sui Hoe manages to bring balance and uniqueness into his artworks. Khoo Sui Hoe’s world is one of enchantment and mysticism, nature and magic. The mood is filled with romantisicm, as two faces or masks that symbolise a couple, are in love. Born in 1939 in Baling, Kedah, he studied at Singapore’s prestigious Nanyang Academy of Art and then at the Pratt Graphic Center in the US. He was one of the earliest and courageous people who took the plunge of becoming a full-time artist. Through his Alpha Singapore Gallery and Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang, he has helped promote other artists. Khoo Sui Hoe has also won a lot of awards, among which are the First Prize for the 1965 Malaysian art competition, an Honourable Mention in Salon Malaysia 1969 and the Asian Arts Now Awards (twice) given by the Las Vegas Museum.
KLAS Art Auction
Aug. 23, 2020
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. Kedah, 1939) Lake Merah, 2002
Est: RM38,000 - RM60,000
Lake Merah captures Khoo Sui Hoe’s unique vision of nature in a poetic work exploring illusion and reality. A symbolic gate like entrance stands amidst a red lake, blending with the sky in perfect harmony. The structure is painted in rainbow like colours, while the sky and water are tinted with a reddish-brown hue. The river provided much inspiration for the artist in his later years. Khoo Sui Hoe won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo is a rare artist with a Retrospective and two mini-Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Datuk Seri Lim’s Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Sui Hoe won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery. He also exhibited at PAM Centre in 2017, and at Daiichi Art Space in 2019.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 24, 2019
Khoo Sui Hoe (b. 1939) Girl From Up North, 1995
Est: RM4,500 - RM7,500
In Girl From Up North, Khoo Sui Hoe portrays a girl with a peaceful expression and captures the compelling inner world of the sitter. The modelling of the facial planes gives the face structure a sense of three dimensionality. The contrast of green, blue and ochre flows through the entire painting in subtle gradations. Khoo won many admirers when he boldly and immediately went full time into art in 1961 after completing his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in Singapore. In 1974, he was awarded the John D. Rockefeller III Fund grant to study at the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. Khoo is a rare artist with a Retrospective and two mini- Retrospectives. The Penang State Art Gallery honoured him with a Retrospective, The Painted World Of Khoo Sui Hoe, in 2007. His minis are at The Art Gallery Penang, in 2013, of works from 1967 to 2013; and at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai, in August 2017, apart from two other major exhibitions at HELP Institute in 1992 and Datuk Seri Limâs Bellevue Hotel in Penang Hill in 2000. The Penang Museum Board had in 1978 already given Khoo a solo, of his works from 1963 to 1973. He was also given a two-part An Overview exhibition, the second at the Private Museum, Singapore. Recent Paintings at the prestigious Shanghai Art Museum in July 5-14 add to his stature. Khoo won Honourable Mention in the prestigious Salon Malaysia in 1969 and also 1st Prize (Oil) in the Malaysian Art & Craft competition in 1965. Khoo is the spiritual leader of the Utara Group, formed in 1977. He was also a gallerist, handling the Alpha Gallery Singapore in 1972, which was revived in Penang in 2004 as the Alpha Utara Gallery. 30 x 23cm
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers