Joanne Lau

Born 28 April 1954, Sibu ,Sarawak    
Committee Member of Sarawak Artists Society(2021-2023)
Member of the National Art Gallery
Member of Malaysian Women Artists Association

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Joanne Lau rekindled her art passion late in life in 2009 after retiring from her career in education. Spurred by a fond memory of her first drawn and coloured apple being displayed on the classroom wall in her first year at school, Joanne picked up the brush again at the age of 55. From primary to high school, she studied art and scored good grades in it. Born and bred in Sarawak, Joanne relates naturally to her environment which is the focal of her art. 

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Initially, she was under the tutelage of 2 masters: Sim Chiap Hin for fine art in watercolour and David Chew for abstract in acrylic. Subsequently, Joanne went on venturing in different directions and continued to explore and experiment on her own. She eventually attained her semi-abstract impressionist style with her distinctive twirls and curls. Her artworks are stylistic and flamboyant, more contemporary based and suited to modern new homes and offices both locally and abroad.

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What started as a hobby later progressed to therapy- as she continued to paint after a health setback- and eventually blossomed into a career. Joanne calls her art a new beginning and the most joyful and rewarding! She thanked the Almighty for this wonderful blessing in her life.

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Joanne made a public debut with her first artwork sold in 2014. Following that, she took her work to London and exhibited alongside 9 other international artists and she sold again! That gave her the confidence to push further and commissions started to flow in. It is through social networks that her work continues to grow in popularity. Now, she paints every day and her biggest joy is painting.

Currently, her artworks are exhibited for sale in Dublin. Embracing innovation, Joanne entered uncharted waters in 2022 by joining the NFT team, Kyodo Collective and minted her first digital art piece. Since then, she has compiled her ‘ Journey Of Life ‘ NFT set in preparation for the Web3 project in Kuching.

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Joanne strongly believes that there have to be feelings involved when viewing an art piece to connect. Being a positive thinker, Joanne paints to bring joy, hope, love and prosperity into homes and offices. Her colours speak volumes about those factors as well as the importance of peace and harmony. She believes that her artwork can enlighten a place like a spark of light! Such is her mind when she paints. She draws inspiration from the sights and sounds of her life’s travels and experiences. Each piece carries a story or an inspiration.

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Colourful Echoes is about the visual and audio experiences in Joanne’s life which many can relate to. The bright cheerful colours are the happy good moments and the dark blue is the downtime. Together, they enrich one’s life through the grinding and refining process, ultimately leaving one stronger and more resilient than ever. Gaze at the painting and transport oneself back to reflect on one’s journey of life.

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In this 70th birthday solo show, Joanne is showcasing her twirls and curls in a triptych using her favourite number, 369 (Proverbs 3:6-9). Passion, peace and purpose put together gives one the ultimate fulfilment in life. Joanne believes that her blessing to paint is to bless others with her art so part of this show’s proceeds will go to 3 non-governmental organizations. Charity is the path that she has pursued whenever her work is exhibited and collected and she has actively participated in charity art shows.

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Enjoy the simplicity of Joanne’s works heavily packed with feelings and emotions. Her free spirit shines through this broad range of series, from the rainforest to the garden and the contemplative semi-abstract impressionist. Every piece has a unique tale attached to it.