Biography

Malu Tan (b. 1964, Manila Philippines) is a multi-media artist who identifies deeply with nature. Her work explores the emotional gravity of a place and is known for its strong gestural marks, texture, and many-color palate. Malu studied at The Art Academy London, prompting her to pursue a long-held dream to devote her life’s work to artmaking. Her art has been exhibited at Artfields, SC; Waterworks, Salisbury NC, Katonah Museum, NY; Marin Museum, CA; Ayala Museum, Manila; On Center Gallery, MA;  Monika Olko Gallery, NY; Faber Birren, CT; and the Philippine Consulate, NY.  She is a recipient of the Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Arts and Science Council (ASC), Mecklenburg County, NC and was named the 2023 Best Installation Artist Reader’s Pick by Queen City Nerve. Her work is part of the permanent collection of the Yale New Haven Medical Center, CT; Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, VA; and Cartus Corporation, CT. Malu currently lives and works in Charlotte, NC.

Artist Statement

My work is an attempt to find myself and capture the essence of a place. Through my abstract and narrative paintings, and constructed installation spaces, I explore the emotional gravity of a place as a way to understand myself and navigate through my everyday chaos toward calm.

I confront nostalgia and transitory feelings of longing for home by creating abstract spaces. I allow my imagination to collide, using the radiance of made-up scenes to find moments of joy. To me, creating these imagined scenes is as significant as seeing them.