Xuan Hew is a Malaysian artist who lives and works between Kuala Lumpur and London. She works primarily with oil painting, with a practice centred on encountering landscape and creating an environment for meditative calm.

Drawn to snowy mountain ranges, Xuan's fascination is partly rooted in early memories of skiing and the joy associated with mountains, as well as a longing for landscapes vastly different from those found in Malaysia. Her work is informed by field trips to the Alps, which became more accessible during her time studying in London as a female solo traveller. Over time, this longing transformed into curiosity, an urge to understand mountains not only visually, but through their names, histories, heights, and geological makeup.

Sketchbooks and journals are a vital part of Xuan’s process. She sketches on site during field trips, slowing down to observe and study the mountain peaks in front of her. While reference photographs remain important, this act of direct engagement allows for a deeper appreciation of the landscape, which she considers a privilege in a fast-paced world. She is drawn to oil paint for its rich history and forgiving nature; the slow process of layering and reworking mirrors the gradual formation of mountains over time.

Xuan holds an MA Fine Art: Painting from Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London. Her exhibition history includes a solo exhibition in London (UK), a duo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and group exhibitions in Shenzhen (China), London(UK), Malaysia, and Taiwan. She has completed a six-month residency with the National Art Gallery Malaysia and recently undertook a one-month research residency across the Swiss Alps.