Little Rapunzel plays with Legos as she cradles her monkey and protects him from a crocodile that lurks in the background of the oil painting titled, “Following Nature” by artist Shiueh Lih.
The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection includes works by artists from more than 20 countries around the globe, including nine oil paintings on linen paper by Malaysian painter Shiueh Lih, whose whimsical, dreamlike series of figurative portraits of a young heroine caught Michael’s eye.
A self-taught painter, Shiueh Lih began working with gouache paints around 2013, but eventually made the transition to oil paints, which she says “brought me forward against my own boundaries with many unspoken childhood stories.”
The vibrant blend of colors and juxtaposition of subtle imagery on paper adds to the mysterious meaning behind each of the paintings. It is as if every piece is a kaleidoscopic illustration from a children’s book that has yet to be written.
To date, Shiueh Lih is the second most represented artist in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection with nine smaller works of art featured. Two different sized paintings by the artist are on display, both 5” x 7” and 8” x 10”. Although less common than the paintings on linen paper, Shiueh Lih also occasionally sells larger works on canvas as well.
In the oil painting titled “Promised Land” by artist Shiueh Lih, a young girl holds a red cage in one hand and a rabbit in the other, while gazelles leap around her in a field of flowers and a pair of birds kiss in mid-air.
With a falcon perched on her arm and her dog at her side, she sails through a school of fish, armed with her slingshot and the pearls resting at her feet in the oil painting titled, “Beginner’s Luck” by artist Shiueh Lih.
Titled “Philosopher,” this oil painting by artist Shiueh Lih shows a girl surrounded by toys that include a Ferris wheel, owl, horse, unicorn and car.
In addition to selling her paintings online, she also participates in art contests in Malaysia.
“My inspirations are from all walks of life, songs, other artists and many imaginary stories,” she said.
Like puzzle pieces that fit together to seamlessly weave an exotic tale, the visual elements in her paintings are clues to the hidden meanings behind each artistic depiction. It is this strange juxtaposition of symbolism that elevates her work and makes it a special, almost literary narrative.
“I hope people can see I try to capture the beauty even in the most mundane things. Above all, I hope my art could generate insight, curiosity both old and new to all viewers.”
To view more original works in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection click here. For information about works that have been donated to the collection click here.
“Into the Midnight,” an oil painting on paper by artist Shiueh Lih, blends the colorful imagery of SpongeBob SquarePants, a rooster, birthday cake, pair of scissors, spiders and a winding spiral staircase into a dreamlike vision, in which our heroine Rapunzel once again stars.