About Willy Tay 戴瑋利
Willy Tay 戴瑋利 (b. 1974) graduated from LaSalle College of the Arts in 1994 with a Diploma in Fine Art (Painting). He continued his studies at RMIT University, completing his Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) in 1998 and a Master of Arts (Fine Art) in 2004.
Artistic Practice
With a dynamic artistic practice, Willy Tay has participated in both solo and group exhibitions in Singapore and internationally. Notable exhibitions include “Do You Believe in Angels?” at Equator Art Projects in Singapore and Mo_Space in the Philippines in 2014; “The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image” at Jinji Lake Art Museum in Suzhou, China in 2013; “Moments on White” at Osage Gallery in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2007.
His most recent group exhibition took place in 2023 at the Impression Culture and Art Festival in the Wenjiang Art District of Chengdu, China.
Artistic Approach
Willy Tay views art as a reflective medium, offering a mirror to society and emphasizing the artist’s role in interpreting and narrating the cultural and aesthetic narratives that shape our collective understanding. His paintings demonstrate a delight in the application and layering of paint, reflecting his engagement with the evolving contemporary art scene.
He currently lives and works in Singapore, where he continues to develop his artistic practice.
Education
- 2004 | Master of Arts (Fine Art), RMIT University, Melbourne
- 1998 | Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art), RMIT University, Melbourne
- 1994 | Diploma in Fine Art (Painting), LaSalle SIA College of the Arts, Singapore
Solo Exhibitions
- 2014 | Absence of Knowing, Equator Art Projects, Singapore
- 2007 | A Matter of Time, SooBin Art Gallery, Singapore
- 2005 | Still, PKW Gallery, Singapore
- 2005 | An Inward Dialogue, Chengdu Painting Academy, China
- 2005 | An Inward Dialogue, Tank Loft Art Center, Chongqing, China
- 2005 | Recent Works, Asian Art Options, Singapore
- 2004 | Landscape +, SooBin Art Gallery, Singapore
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2025 | Art SG 2025, Singapore
- 2025 | Refrained, iPreciation Gallery, Singapore
- 2023 | Impression Culture and Art Festival, Wenjiang Art District, Chengdu, China
- 2017 | Temporal Relations, TYC Studio Gallery, Chengdu, China
- 2013 | Do You Believe in Angels?, Equator Art Projects, Singapore & Mo_Space, Manila, Philippines
- 2013 | Painting in Singapore, Equator Art Projects, Singapore
- 2012 | The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image, Singapore Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jinji Lake Art Museum, Suzhou, China
- 2011 | OH Open House / OH Post Exhibition, Evil Empire Gallery, Singapore
- 2007 | Ephemeral, PKW Gallery, Singapore
- 2007 | Moments on White, Osage SOHO Gallery, Hong Kong
- 2007 | Painting in Spite Of…, Project Space, Singapore
- 2007 | 3rd Guiyang Biennial, Guizhou, China
- 2007 | Moments on White, Osage Gallery, Singapore
- 2006 | ART Singapore, Singapore
- 2005 | …and a Partridge in a Pear Tree, Asian Art Options, Singapore
- 2005 | ART Singapore, Singapore
- 2005 | 500 & Below Show, PKW Gallery, Singapore
- 2004 | ASEAN Art Awards Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
- 2004 | Work in Progress, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
- 2003 | Philip Morris ASEAN Award Exhibition, MITA Building Atrium, Singapore
- 2003 | Concerted Spaces, Studio 106, Singapore
- 2003 | The Big Small Show, Art Seasons Gallery, Singapore
- 2003 | Box II, Plastic Kinetic Worms, Singapore
- 2003 | Work in Progress II, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
- 2002 | Fable of the Pelican, Art Motion Gallery, Singapore
- 2002 | Round the World in Eight Ways (Charity Auction), Hilton Hotel, Singapore
- 2001 | Nokia Singapore Art 2001, Sculpture Square, Singapore
- 2001 | 20th UOB Painting of the Year Exhibition, UOB Building, Singapore
- 1999 | Suria III Group Show, Caldwell House Gallery, CHIJMES, Singapore
- 1998 | All Must Go!, Substation Gallery, Singapore
- 1998 | Ao Tu, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
- 1997 | Moon and Star Show, Utopia Gallery, Singapore
- 1996 | Singapore Red Ribbon Award Exhibition, Suntec City / Bugis Junction / Substation Gallery, Singapore
- 1996 | Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards Exhibition, Takashimaya Gallery, Singapore
- 1994 | Eclectic Group Exhibition, LaSalle Gallery, Singapore
- 1994 | Defence Art Exhibition, Marina Square, Singapore
Teaching
- 2000–2001 | Multimedia Department (Digital Imaging), LaSalle SIA College of the Arts
Performance
- 2005 | Replenish, Dance choreography by Matthew Hawkins (UK), Tank Loft Art Center, Chongqing
Articles and Reviews
- 2007 | “A Matter of Time”, by Cyril Wong
- 2005 | “Lost Myth”, by Zhang Xiao Zhong, Lian He Zhao Pao
- 2005 | “Lost and Reshaped Myth”, by Zhai Yong Ming
- 2004 | “Artist and Exhibition”, by KK Goh, Lian He Zhao Pao
- 2004 | “Turning Walls into Art”, by Sujin Thomas, Streats
- 2003 | “Art of Peeking Pays Off”, by Clarissa Oon, The Straits Times
- 2002 | “Pictures in Another Time”, by Ian Woo, Vehicle Contemporary Visual Arts
- 2002 | “Fable of the Pelican”, by Milenko Prvacki
- 2001 | “Nokia Singapore Art”, by Suhaila Sulaiman, The Straits Times
- 1996 | “Alumni Group Seeks Directions in Chinese Drama”, by Wong Chee Meng, The Straits Times
- 1996 | “Transitional Times”, by Rachel Farnay, Vogue Singapore
Awards
- 2003 | Philip Morris ASEAN Art Award, Jurors’ Choice
- 2001 | 20th UOB Painting of the Year, Highly Commended
- 1998 | Singapore Urban Art Competition, Commendation
- 1996 | Singapore Red Ribbon Award “Art Against AIDS”, Merit Prize
- 1996 | Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards, Honorable Mention
- 1994 | Defence Art Competition, Merit Award
Private Collections
- Westin Hotel, Xiamen, China
- Singapore Art Museum
- DBS Bank, Singapore
- National Art Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
- Dr Brian Howard
- Professor Howard Hunter
- Dr Woffles Wu
- Mr Ong Kim Huat
- Mr Ernst Chin
For the full CV and biography details, please contact the gallery at
enquiry@ipreciation.com.
Further Information
For further information about Willy Tay and related institutions, please refer to the following resources:
Images of Artworks
