Ian Woo

Dr. Ian Woo is an accomplished artist, musician, and educator serving as the Programme Leader for the MA Fine Arts program at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore. With a Doctor in Fine Arts from RMIT University Australia, an MA in European Fine Art from Winchester School of Art, and a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Kent Institute of Art & Design, Dr. Woo brings extensive academic and practical experience to his role.

His educational leadership includes developing the curriculum for studio practice research through validations by Open University and Goldsmiths University. Dr. Woo has supervised numerous artists who have exhibited at prestigious venues including the Venice and Singapore Biennales, significantly contributing to the development of Singapore's contemporary art scene since the turn of the millennium.

Dr. Woo's research interests focus on modern painting, perceptual painting, abstraction, contemporary music, phenomenology, and matter and memory. His current research explores "Painting and abstraction in relation to time and phenomenology of the incidental." Since 2016, he has been a key participant in the experimental painting collaborative project "Impermanent Durations – On Painting and Time" alongside Beth Harland, David Thomas, and Laura Lisbon.

His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent engagement with contemporary painting discourse, with recent publications examining the relationship between painting, time, and phenomenology. These works reveal his theoretical depth while maintaining strong connections to practical artistic concerns, bridging the gap between academic research and studio practice.

• Finalist, Sovereign Asian Art Prize (2010)
• Recipient of the National Arts Council Local Bursary Award (2003)
• Juror's Choice, Philip Morris Group of Companies ASEAN Art Awards (2000)
• Multiple awards from Philip Morris Group of Companies Singapore Art Awards (1999-2000)
• Category Winner of the Abstract Medium, The 18th UOB Painting of the Year Art Competition (1999)
• Recipient of the JCCI Singapore Art Award 1999

As an advisor, Dr. Woo has guided emerging artists whose works have been featured in major international exhibitions. His teaching philosophy emphasizes developing artistic practice as research, influencing a generation of Singaporean artists. Dr. Woo has also contributed to numerous public art projects including "Emotional Things" at the Esplanade Tunnel in Singapore and installations at Marina One Office and Suzhou Center in China.

Dr. Woo maintains an active studio practice while continuing his scholarly work. His ongoing collaborations and international engagements demonstrate his commitment to advancing contemporary painting discourse globally while maintaining strong connections to Singapore's art ecosystem.