Masturah Sha’ari is a gallerist, artist and art historian. She started drawing since young, even winning a few neighbourhood children’s art competitions. She paints mostly abstracts, including abstract landscapes, using soft gestures and colourful strokes of acrylic on canvas, to convey emotions. Her work has been exhibited in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, and can be found in public and private collections.
Masturah holds a Master of Arts in Asian Art Histories from Goldsmiths University of London through LASALLE College of the Arts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics and Malay Studies from National University of Singapore (NUS), and a Diploma in Design Communication from LASALLE College of the Arts.
As co-founder of Maya Gallery, Masturah is highly dedicated to promote Singapore artists internationally. Actively contributing to the art community, she serves as President of Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (APAD), an art society of Malay artists in Singapore. In 2021, she was appointed Chairman of Voices & Visions: Singapore Women Artists Exhibition 2021 organised by Federation of Art Societies Singapore (FASS). She is also an exco member in the Singapore Arts Federation (SAF).
Masturah is driven by a passion for bridging traditional and contemporary art practices, and the belief that art is vital nourishment for the human spirit. Her commitment to the arts is evident through her numerous accomplishments: curating exhibitions; design, research, writing, and publishing catalogues; conducting art talks and workshops; volunteering; mentoring university students; and speaking at museums and institutions.
“Abstract art serves as a medium for me to explore the concept of freedom and space, expressing my emotions. Departing from my earlier work, my new abstract series takes on a refreshed yet raw feel, to reflect on more recent life events and inspirations. Beyond brushes, I use wooden boards used at construction sites, bigger palette knives, some tools, even my hands, to depict a more layered piece with rough strokes. The title seems to suggest that no matter how tough it gets, getting into the process of creating art can nourish one’s soul, and may even nudge an interesting conversation with the viewer.”
