Claudia Koh is an emerging Singaporean artist whose work explores the intricate tapestry of Southeast Asian identity and cultural heritage, while expressing the quiet anxieties within Singapore's unique societal and urban landscape.

Born and raised in Singapore's dense urban environment, Koh's artistic practice is deeply influenced by her personal experiences growing up in the city-state's iconic Housing Development Board (HDB) buildings. These color-blocked, high-rise structures, which house 80% of Singapore's population, serve as a central motif in her work, reflecting the psychology of contemporary Singaporean life and the government's influence on social dynamics.

Koh's paintings often feature soft, naked, and slightly distorted bodies moving through confined spaces, emphasizing familiar, feminine forms. Her compositions range from figurative to near-abstract, employing dark tones illuminated by dim lights to evoke the intimate yet sometimes claustrophobic nature of urban living. Asian symbols, such as the Arowana fish, feature prominently in her work, addressing themes of identity, belonging, and belief systems in post-modern society.

In addition to paintings, Koh creates temporary "living" sculptures and installations using found objects, food, and plants. These self-sustaining yet ephemeral ecosystems invite viewers to question the nature of constructed environments and social dynamics. The humid atmosphere of Singapore serves as a recurring theme and metaphor for endurance and transformation in her work.

Koh's art reflects on a world where physical, social, and environmental barriers grow increasingly tight. Yet, within this tension, she reaches for tender moments of connection and belonging. As a Southeast Asian woman now physically detached from Singapore, her work navigates the complex emotions of longing for home while grappling with its lasting constraints.

Through her evocative self-portraits, sculptures, and installations, Koh creates a visual dialogue that addresses the consequences of political and environmental implementations in living spaces. Her work invites viewers into intimate moments, exposing vulnerability and offering glimpses into solitude, longing, and the shifting notion of home in the modern urban experience.

Koh is completing her BFA in Painting at The Rhode Island School of Design in 2025.