Pioneer Peranakan painter Sylvia Lee Goh dead at 80


A file image of Lee Goh standing beside her Peranakan-inspired painting 'Red Bride' (oil on canvas, 1996) at an art event in Kuala Lumpur in 2015. Photo: The Star

Senior Malaysian artist Sylvia Lee Goh, who was known for her richly atmospheric and intense oil paintings surrounding her life experiences and Peranakan cultural heritage, has died in Kuala Lumpur. She was 80.

Her death on May 6 in Kuala Lumpur was announced on the National Art Gallery’s Facebook page this morning.

Save 30% for ads-free and full access now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Art , Sylvia Lee Goh , Painter , Artist , Death , Penang , Peranakan

Next In Culture

Weekend for the arts: Dollah Baju Merah wayang kulit tribute, Rimbun Dahan open day
Ten fiction and non-fiction books inspired by the Vietnam War
Two Malaysians shortlisted for inaugural PEN translation prize
Amid change and challenges, these Hong Kong bookshops persist
How book events are powering a new chapter for Malaysian indie bookshops
In Nigeria’s floating slum, ‘The Herds’ puppet tour spotlights climate change
Paws and pages: US artist illustrates 600 dogs in her new book
Peranakan links: Melaka’s 'Best Nyonya' musical heads to George Town
Han Kang to release first book since Nobel Prize triumph
Weekend for the arts: 'The Plantation Plot' exhibition, 'Baroque Brilliance'

Others Also Read