Chua Mia Tee | 蔡明智


1931 - 









Chua Mia Tee (b. 1931) is a highly acclaimed Singaporean artist celebrated for his realist paintings that vividly document the social, political, and cultural life of Singapore from the 1950s onwards. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Chua was part of the post-war generation of artists who sought to reflect local realities through their work, merging Western techniques with a distinctly Singaporean perspective. He is best known for his portraits, figurative works, and scenes of everyday life, such as “National Language Class” (1959), which captures the spirit of nation-building and social change. His paintings are recognized for their meticulous composition, subtle use of color, and ability to convey both narrative and emotion, providing insight into Singapore’s evolving identity. Beyond his artistic practice, Chua Mia Tee has played an influential role in nurturing Singapore’s art community, inspiring subsequent generations of artists to explore realism with a local context.










Timeline






1931                                Born in Shantou, Guandong Province, China.

1950 - 1952                     Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

1952 - 1954, 
1956 - 1957                     Lectured at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

1957 - 1960                     Illustrator, Shanghai Book Company

1960                                Created a portrait bust of the Zubir Said

1960 - 1965                     Designer, Grant Advertising International

1965 - 1972                    Designer & Illustrator, Time’s Organsiation’s Federal Publication

1974                                1st Solo Exhibition, Rising Art Gallery, Singapore

1979                                Commissioned to make 36 sketches of Ministers & Members of Parliament during parliamentary meetings

1980                                Joint Exhibition with wife, Lee Boon Ngan, Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore

1982                                2nd Solo Exhibition, British Council, Singapore

1984                                National Day Painting on the theme “25 Years of Nation Buildinng, 1959 - 1984” featured on front page of The Straits Times

1985                                3rd Solo Exhibition, Long Pine Gallery, Ming Court Hotel, Singapore 

1986                                Created relief mural towards High Technology, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore

1986 - 2005                     Portraits of Business man of the year Award Winners:

                                       - Mr Michael Fam
                                       - Mr Lim Chin Beng
                                       - Mr Alan Yeo
                                       - Mr WEE Cho Yaw
                                       - Mr Ong Beng Seng
                                       - Mr Sim Wong Hoo
                                       - Mr Albert Hong
                                       - Mr Kartar Singh Thakral
                                       - Mr Kwek Leng Beng
                                       - Mr Wong Ngit Liong
                                       - Mr Tommie Goh
                                       - Mr Goh Lik Tuan 
                                       - Mr Ron Sim
                                       - Ms Olivia Lum

1987                                Instructor, 5TH ASEAN Youth Workshop, master classes

1988                                4th Solo Exhibition, “The Art of Chua Mia Tee”, Ministry of Community Development and the National Museum, Singapore
                                       Participated in 50th Painting Exhibition of R.Basoeki Abdullah R.A.N, Jakarta, Indonesia

1989                                Participated in 1st Brunei - Singapore Art Exhibition, Brunei

1990                                Joint Exhibition with wife, Lee Boon Ngan, Hilton International, Singapore
                                       Designed Singapore new $50 currency note to commemorate 
                                       Designed Singapore new $2 Currency note 
                                       Painted portraits for Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin

1991                                Painted Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, a May Day gift from the National Trades Union Congress

1992                                Painted “The Opening of 8th Parliament” for the Parliament of Singapore
                                       5th Solo Exhibition, “Chua Mia Tee - The Best of Four Decades”, Empress Place, Singapore

1993                                Painted portrait of President Ong Teng Cheong Swearing-In Ceremony
                                       Painted portrait of Mr Quek Hong Png, Hong Leong Finance Collection
                                       Painted portrait of Chief Justice Yong Pang How

1994                                Painted Portrait of Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong for his conferral of The Distinguished Comrade of Labour Award by the                                            National Trades Union Congress, Singapore
                                       Painted portrait of Mr Albert Hong, Chairman of RSP Architects Planners & Engineer (Pte) Ltd

1995                                Mr Wee Cho Yaw, Chairman of UOB Collection of UOB President Yusof Bin Ishak for currency note

1996 - 1997                     Painted a series of paintings of Singapore’s 5 presidents with their ten important ministers for the Istana, Singapore

1997                               Designed the One Million Dollars Commemorative Note, a souvenir note to mark the handover of Hong Kong by United Kingdom to                                           China
                                      Painted portraits of President C V Devan Nair collection of BCCS

1998                               Painted portrait of 1st Singapore President Yusok Ishak and Benjamin Sheares for the newly built Parliament House, Singapore
                                      Painted portraits of President Benjamin Sheares collection for BCCS

1999                               Painted “The Opening of the 9th Parliament” for the Parliament of Singapore

2000                               Portrait of Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau collection of BCCS

2001                               Portrait of Mr & Mrs Goh Lik Tuan & family private collection

2002                                Painted portrait of Singapore President S.R. Nathan for his 80th birthday

2004                               Portrait of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon Swearing-In ceremony

2006                               Portrait of Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong Law Society collection

2007                                Portrait of Mr & Mrs Ron Sim & family private collection

2015                                Received the Cultural Medallion for his contributions to visual arts in Singapore






Selected Work







Balinese Dancer ( 巴厘舞者 )
1976
Water Color Painting
41.5 cm x 59 cm
Nagasaki Bana ( 日本长崎 )
Oil Painting
122 cm x 92 cm









Exhibition

















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