On display at Harta in Ampang, this marks a full-circle moment for the Subang-born artist who has spent 27 years living abroad.
“To be a Malaysian, but to have built an international brand outside of Malaysia, and now to finally have all my friends and family come experience it – it’s so emotional for me,” Leong told FMT Lifestyle.
Known for her distinctive use of vibrant colours and layered textures, Leong’s works have found homes in private collections across Europe, Australia, the US, and beyond. But no matter how far her art has travelled, Malaysia has always remained in the DNA of her pieces.
Leong’s path to becoming a full-time artist is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Originally a chartered accountant, she once lived in the structured world of finance, working in London, New York, and Switzerland.
But in 2012, she made a radical decision to leave it all behind and embrace painting – working on children’s paintings in Singapore.
Leong’s homecoming exhibition titled “Kaleidoscope” features an entirely new body of work. Many of the pieces are love letters to her Malaysian heritage, woven with childhood memories and cultural motifs.
“I don’t even think about it consciously – Malaysia is just part of me and it finds its way into my art.”
One of the standout pieces serves as a nostalgic tribute to her favourite childhood drink. Titled “Sirap Bandung”, it bursts with rosy hues against a richly textured background, one of Leong’s signature elements. A giant green banana leaf sits at the centre, adding to its striking composition.
“Monsoon Magic II”, on the other hand, captures the untamed rhythm of Malaysia’s tropical rains, inspired by the view from her childhood bedroom window. Like many of her works, it is mixed media on canvas, incorporating blue and white raw silk to mimic the movement of rain.
“Life is a Party” is the main piece of the exhibition – not the largest, but certainly one of the most striking. Set against a bold black background, it bursts into an explosion of pink petals, with a vivid orange centre that evokes both a flower and the sun.
“With this piece, I wanted to convey a simple message – life is a party. Enjoy it while you can. Dance like no one’s watching, colour outside the lines – hence the black drip effect. It’s about embracing that burst of life because life is short,” shared Leong.
In fact, she encourages this spirit in all her paintings. “A little secret about my process – when I finish a painting, when I think it’s perfect, I splatter it. These splatters come at the end because life isn’t perfect. Embracing imperfections is what makes life fun.”
Speaking about her vivid, colourful style, Leong credits her home country as the inspiration. “What do I miss most about Malaysia? The colours.”
Leong spent over a year putting the exhibition together, painting each piece in Switzerland during the snowy winter months.
“Every show I do abroad, people ask how I come up with these colour pairings because they don’t follow the usual rules of the colour wheel, since I never went to art school. My answer is always, ‘Well, that’s Malaysia’.”
Much of her work nods to the country’s rich heritage. “Fantasia” merges intricate batik motifs with bold contemporary flourishes, while “Jewel of the Jungle” pays homage to Malaysia’s lush rainforests.
A whimsical detail in Leong’s artworks is her hidden bees – an element she includes to raise awareness about the vital role of these tiny creatures in our ecosystem.
“It’s both an environmental message and a playful element with the hide-and-seek,” she revealed.
Leong’s homecoming show is not just an exhibition but a statement: that no matter how far she’s travelled, Malaysia remains an intrinsic part of her creative identity.
‘Kaleidoscope’ by Mishell Leong
Venue: Harta, Level 1, Lot 93-95 Lorong Memanda 2, 68000 Ampang, Selangor
Date: Until Feb 26
Time: 10am–5pm (Closed on Mondays)
Admission: Free
Visit the Harta website or follow them on Instagram.
Learn more about Mishell Leong here.