Timothy Lai
Timothy Lai (b. 1987, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia) graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2017 and lives and works in Providence, USA. Exploring societal hierarchies through the lenses of art-historical reference, personal storytelling and relational dynamics, Lai’s paintings, like his subjects, exist in a state of flux, suspended between the figurative and the abstract, between revelation and withdrawal. Lai was the subject of a major institutional presentation at Longlati Foundation in Shanghai in 2022 and the same year was awarded the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts Fellowship in Painting.
Education
2017 M.F.A Painting Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2009 Bachelor of Arts in Communications, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2024
Towards a Blue Room, Josh Lilley, London
2023
Double Wall, Jack Barrett, New York, NY
2022
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, PA, Longlati Foundation, Shanghai, China
2021
Soft Words Make it Easier to Bear, Jack Barrett, New York, NY
2019
Oh Brother. Oh Bother., 0-0 LA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015
Exploring The Mark, Mercury Project Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2013
Conversations, Sopac Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2010
Installation, Salon Rouge, San Antonio, TX
Group Exhibitions
2023
New Moroism, White Cube, Hong Kong
2022
Dallas Art Fair, Jack Barrett, Dallas, TX
2021
Trove, Miami Beach, FL
NADA Miami, Jack Barrett, New York, NY
Longlati Foundation, Shanghai, China ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 Americans, Chart, New York, NY
2020
NADA Miami, Jack Barrett, New York, NY
Home Alone, Jack Barrett, Long Island, NY
Envelope, curated by Essex Flowers hosted by Drawer.NYC
2019
ROMCOM, Good Naked Gallery, New York, NY
2018
Velvet Ropes NYC, GIFC and Fisher Parrish Gallery, New York, NY
Bathers, Drawer at Bass & Reiner Gallery, San Francisco, CA
GIFC Traveling Exhibit
2017
RISD MFA Painting, 315 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
RISD Thesis Exhibition, RI Convention Center, Providence, RI
Painting Graduate Biennial, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2016
Hang Ten, Field Projects, New York, NY
Prisoner’s Cinema, Gelman Gallery, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
2015
First Year Painting, 505 Gallery, Providence, RI
2014
3rd Annual Anaclaus A Colorful Holiday Extravaganza, AnArte Gallery,San Antonio, TX
Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, San Antonio College, San Antonio, TX
2013
Private show, AnArte Gallery, San Antonio, TX
La Vida Dulce, AnArte Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Student Exhibition, St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, TX
2012
Student Exhibition, St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, TX
Spring Student Exhibition, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
2011
Fall Student Exhibition, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
2010
Una Noche De La Gloria, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio, TX
Press
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