Recent Artworks
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
90 × 90cm
Acrylic Paint and Paper Collage on Canvas
2026
A vivid zebra crowned with a fiery mane emerges from the surrounding herd, commanding attention with its striking individuality. Constructed from a collage of newspaper fragments and old law book pages, the herd is overlaid with barcodes that reveal the words “conform,” “price,” and “efficiency” when scanned. Through these layered materials and symbols, the artist reflects on a culture increasingly shaped by productivity, standardisation, and measurable value.
In contrast, the central figure stands as an emblem of courage and self-expression, inviting viewers to embrace distinction rather than dissolve into uniformity.
*Find the word(s) hidden in the barcode by scanning the painting with a barcode scanner app!
Curator’s Note:
Materials for the collage are sourced from newspaper clippings and law books discarded by a law school during its campus closure. The artist uses these materials to contrast human systems of judgment with an alternative order rooted in liberating grace.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
30 × 30cm
Acrylic paint and collage on canvas
2026
This series depicts otters holding and feasting on large fish. Written on each fish are the words “open wide your mouth and I will fill it”, taken from a verse in the bible about divine provision.
Behind the otters in their playful abundance are fragments of newspaper headlines about war and unrest. The contrast is striking: beneath them lie scarcity and fear, yet above, there is provision and contentment.
Through this imagery, the works speak of divine provision that remains constant despite external circumstances. Like the otters that lack nothing, the series reflects a quiet assurance: even in uncertain times, there is enough, and we are provided for.
Abundant Supply 1 - Otter on the left side of painting
Abundant Supply 2 - Otter in the middle of painting
Abundant Supply 3 - Otter on the right side of painting
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
120 × 60cm
Acrylic paint and collage on canvas
2026
A mother giraffe places a kiss gently on the young giraffe’s head. The calf looks straight ahead, its gaze meeting the present moment.
The background collage is composed of newspaper articles centered on caregiving, dementia support, social responsibility, and the systems that hold communities together. Here, care is not distant or abstract, but immediate and grounded in human experience.
This piece speaks to belonging and reassurance within the here and now. It carries a personal message: you are seen, you are held, and you are not alone. It affirms a steadfast presence that says, “you are mine, and you will be cared for.”
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
120 × 60cm
Acrylic paint and collage on canvas
2026
“Care 1” captures a tender moment between a mother giraffe and her calf, the young one gazing upwards as it receives a gentle kiss on the head.
Underlying this intimate scene, newspaper clippings reveal headlines of war, fuel shortages, and unrest in a troubled world. The contrast is deliberate. Amidst anxiety and uncertainty, the gaze of the calf draws the eye away from chaos and towards something greater.
The painting reflects on the act of lifting one’s gaze beyond immediate circumstances towards hope and trust. It offers a gentle assurance that even amidst fear and uncertainty, a mother’s love endures beyond the instability of the world. It is a reminder we are not abandoned to the weight of life, but held with tenderness, protection, and care within it.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
90 × 90cm
Acrylic paint on canvas
2026
A different code
Written within each cell
It spells Beautiful, unique, special
Brave, rad, free
Identity
A different code
A different way to live by
Not to conform
To fit in a box, on a shelf, in a lane
A different focus
A different prize
Knowing that I am the apple of His eye
Original poem by artist
The artist invites reflection on the systems we inhabit: how often we are measured, categorized, and priced. At the same time, it offers a softer, enduring counterpoint: that beneath and beyond these imposed structures, there exists a value that cannot be quantified.
*Can you find the word “price” hidden in the barcode? Simply scan the painting with a barcode scanner app!
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
50 × 50cm
Acrylic paint and collage on canvas
2026
A hornbill stands against a vibrant hot pink backdrop, its face rendered in striking realistic detail. As the eye moves downwards, the body gradually loosens into abstraction, interwoven with collage elements across the feathers, branch, and foliage.
The bold colours and textured surfaces create a sense of playfulness and vitality. Celebrating individuality, the work draws attention to the hornbill’s distinctive character and invites viewers to embrace their uniqueness with joy and confidence.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
51 × 51 cm
Acrylic paint and collage on canvas
2026
A hornbill stands against a vibrant hot pink backdrop, its face rendered in striking realistic detail. As the eye moves downwards, the body gradually loosens into abstraction, interwoven with collage elements across the feathers, branch, and foliage.
The bold colours and textured surfaces create a sense of playfulness and vitality. Celebrating individuality, the work draws attention to the hornbill’s distinctive character and invites viewers to embrace their uniqueness with joy and confidence.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
50cm round
Acrylic and fabric collage on wood
2025
A towering tree reaches toward the sky, its branches cradling two bird’s nest ferns. Part of the leaves—depicted in layered, colorful fabrics—appear most vibrant, a reminder that even what is withering can give rise to new life. In nature, the dying leaves of the fern make way for fresh growth, echoing the paradox where what seems dead gives rise to life.
Around them, trees interwine into a lush canopy, creating a gentle backdrop to the ferns’ quiet brilliance. The piece invites pause and wonder, encouraging us to see hope and beauty in what is often overlooked.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
50cm round
Acrylic and fabric collage on wood
2025
White lilies float across a serene pond, framed gently by branches reaching inward. Hints of blue and green shimmer in the water, evoking purity and calm.
An otter glides through the lilies, a quiet ripple that draws the eye and invites the imagination to wander across the pond’s tranquil expanse. The circular form of the canvas enhances the sense of gentle flow, capturing a fleeting, meditative moment in nature.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
101 × 76cm
Acrylic and fabric collage on canvas
2024
A fern clings gently to the tree, its leaves unfurling like quiet prayers. Above, clouds curl and sweep across the canvas in luminous rhythm, echoing the restless skies of Van Gogh. The eye is carried upward, from the rooted to the infinite. This work whispers a simple truth: even in our lowest moments, wonder can be found—if only we remember to look up.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
122 × 91cm
Acrylic and fabric collage on canvas
2024
A quiet corner behind Swan Lake at the Botanics Garden, where otters dance in the water and sunlight drifts through the trees. Layers of acrylic and fabric guide the eye from the lush greenery to the sparkling lake beyond, creating the sense of stepping into a private, magical world.
This fleeting moment—soft, serene, and alive with light—reminds us to pause, take a breath, and notice the small wonders that quietly surround us.
JILLIAN CHEONG
51 x 41cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas
2024
Shy and elusive, waterhens are often found near water bodies in the forested areas of Singapore. They are quick to scurry for cover at the slightest hint of danger. Their plain colours and preference to hide in the underbrush makes them even harder to spot. But if you are quiet and wait, your patience will be rewarded.
JILLIAN CHEONG
60 x 60cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Canvas
2024
In the dappled light
Creation speaks
A symphony of birdsong
Gentle breeze, rustles the leaves
Light dances on the water
And peeks through the trees
A balm for the soul.
JILLIAN CHEONG
61 x 122cm
Acrylic Paint and Fabric Collage on Canvas
2023
Did you know that
Every giraffe's spots are unique?
Keep your head high
You are one of a kind
JILLIAN CHEONG
60 x 60cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Canvas
2023
In the dappled light
Creation speaks
A symphony of birdsong
Gentle breeze, rustles the leaves
Light dances on the water
And peeks through the trees
A balm for the soul.
JILLIAN CHEONG
101 x 76cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Canvas
2023
Scientists have debated on the purpose of a zebra's stripes for centuries. A common hypothesis is that when zebras gather in a herd, their stripes serve to confuse predators on where the head or tail is. However, this theory has since been debunked. Whether a predator knows where the head or tail is doesn't matter if it's powerful—and the stripes actually make the zebras stand out more!
We may sometimes find ourselves trying to fit into the "herd" of society, sometimes to the point of creating an inauthentic image of who we are. However, we have no need to confuse predators nor do we have to blend in. We can be who we want to be, and flaunt our unique stripes without worry. Hide no more, for we all carry gifts that beg to shine.
JILLIAN CHEONG
60 x 90cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Canvas (Framed)
2023
Waiting and watching
Quieting of heart and mind
To hear the silence that speaks
Reward for the patient
The magical moment occurs
Dappled light and sure-footed deer,
Moving across your path
Blink and you would have missed it
Too busy and you would have overlooked it
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
76 x 76cm
Acrylic and Fabric Collage on Canvas (Framed)
2023
While observing her children chase pigeons at void decks, Jillian was transported back to her childhood when she played under her grandmother's sewing table. With scrap cloth, she would make costumes for games of make-believe.
"Chasing Pigeons" is a mixed media work comprising acrylic paint and a collage of fabric scraps left behind by Jillian's late grandmother. The hazy background with outlines of Singapore's public housing flats represent her childhood memories which have become fuzzy over time, but the joy and exuberance of the children in full colour symbolises the parts she remembers vividly.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
56 x 41 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
This corridor is a busy space with people shopping and walking by. Yet somehow this cat seems set apart from the busyness happening all around it, carving out a place for itself to rest.
JILLIAN CHEONG
56 x 41 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
At a carpark at Cambridge Market, a cat perches atop a car, quietly and curiously observing the happenings all around.
In many public housing neighbourhoods in Singapore, this is a common and familiar sight for the many Singaporeans who currently live in, or have grown up, in these areas.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
56 x 41 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
Community cats are a common sight in many neighbourhoods around Singapore, and are part of a shared experience for many locals who grew up in public housing flats.
Starting with our community cats, children can be taught to love animals from a young age. With the right encouragement and guidance, they can also learn to delight in and enjoy interacting with these neighbourhood cats as previous generations have.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
56 x 41 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
Cats choose the most unlikely places to sleep. A playground seems a poor choice for a morning nap when there are noisy children about. Yet, this cat is hardly perturbed by the noise and barely opens its eyes as the children step over to make their way to the slide. Perhaps there is something we can learn from this cat and its unbothered attitude towards its surroundings.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
41 x 56 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
Admist the hustle and bustle of a marketing day at Toa Payoh Lorong 4 market, this cat goes mostly unnoticed, finding itself a quieter "highway" route to get about. There is a liberty that comes when we take the road less travelled.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
41 x 56 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
Atop the bonnet of a car, this cat has found a perfect spot to rest. It could seem absurd to nap under the scorching sun, but only in such warm temperatures do cats feel relaxed and able to fall blissfully to sleep.
What are the things or who are the people that help you to unwind and feel at rest?
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
41 x 56 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2021
This shopping cart was parked in a corner against a pillar, away from the hustle and bustle of the wet market. At first glance all you notice is that the cart is full and heavy laden with the morning's marketing. But then a head lifts and a pair of bright eyes look at you hopefully to see if you are the master coming back at last.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
41 x 56 cm
Acrylic on Canvas (Framed)
2022
Our HDB void decks are special community spaces, providing shelter for all and easy access to the greenery outside. The many ledges feel like bay window seats, inviting us to pause and take in the view.
[This work has been pre-framed, and the pricing indicated here is inclusive of the framing cost.]
JILLIAN CHEONG
Acrylic on Canvas
40.64 cm x 30.48 (16 x 12 inch)
2021
Turn and come into the light
That what is hidden may be revealed
Do not fear the bright
Beauty should not be concealed
Inspired by Song of Songs 2:14
“My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.”
Both paintings are sold as a set.
Artist Profile
Jillian Cheong has always enjoyed drawing, but it was only in December 2016 where her journey into acrylic painting began. It was a corporate art jamming session where she was first introduced to the medium. She started by painting cats, the subject she enjoyed the most - and was surprised when friends, and then friends of friends, started to commission her to paint their pets.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst that got her to paint even more, leading to a dramatic improvement in her painting skills. More and more commission work came in, and people started to request to purchase her art pieces. This inspired her to embark on the journey to become an artist.
Jillian's artwork reflects her love of nature and animals. Most of her artwork draws inspiration from the local wildlife in Singapore where she lives and the local alley cats she encounters. Other than that, she also enjoys capturing the likeness and expressions of pets through pet portrait commissions.
JILLIAN CHEONG
Singapore
90 × 90cm
Acrylic Paint and Fabric Collage on Canvas
2026
In the midst of a herd of zebras rendered in stark black and white, stands a vibrant zebra painted over colourful patterned fabric, setting it apart from the rest. Barcodes which read “conform,” “price,” and “efficiency” form part of the herd, reinforcing the message of society’s pressure toward sameness.
The stark contrast of the central zebra affirms the freedom to exist beyond imposed identities, embracing uniqueness as something to be lived fully.
*Find the word(s) hidden in the barcode by scanning the painting with a barcode scanner app!
Curator’s Note:
The artist incorporates discarded fabric scraps from her late grandmother’s collection in the collage. The textiles carry a batik design of familiar patterns and colours. Through these materials, the artist returns to her roots in her creation which is grounded in a sense of place and identity.