Born in 1950 in Yangon, Hlaing Bwa has been a full-time artist since he studied under the old master U Thein Han in the 1970’s. His bold brush strokes and creative color schemes are reminiscent of the European Impressionist style. Monet is Hlaing Bwa’s inspiration. His motifs portray a tranquil Myanmar: the scenic Bagan, colourful Shan State, vibrant market places and lone ladies lost in the moment.

Hlaing Bwa always paints his family and neighbours. So, his wife, sister-in-law and nieces are often subjects. When his nieces were young, he painted series of children. As his little nieces grew up, he started painting young ladies in a room with flowers, which has become Hlaing Bwa’s most recent signature motif.

His work is illustrated in Myanmar Painting: From Worship to Self-Imaging (2006) and mentioned in Burmese Painting: A Linear and Lateral History (2009).


“Hlaing Bwa’s figure studies are rich in colour and with innovative compositions. His paintings have a dreamlike and poetic content even as they are visually strong.”

- Khin Maung Nyunt et al, Myanmar Painting:
  From Worship to Self Imaging, page 155



INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
1981          Art Show, China
1990          Group Show, Canberra, Australia
1995          Myanmar Fair, Parco Bugis Junction, Singapore
                 'Burmese Days', Bangkok, Thailand
2003          Art Asia, New York City, USA
2004-07     Hawthorn Gallery, New York, USA
2007          'Poetry on Canvas', Art Centre, New Jersey, USA
                 'Indochine Beauty', Jakarta, Indonesia
                 ArtAsiaNYC, New York, USA
                 Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
2008          ArtAsiaNYC, New York, USA
2010          LaMaMa Galleria, New York, USA
2012          ArtAsiaNYC, New York, USA

LOCAL EXHIBITIONS
1979          Gardener Village Art Show, Yangon
1980          Gangaw Village Art Show, Yangon
Since 1987 GV Group Show, Yangon
1989          Art and Artisans’ Council Art Show, Yangon

PUBLICATIONS
Myanmar Painting: From Worship to Self Imaging, Pg 82, 83 & 155
Burmese Painting, A Linear and Lateral History, Pg 281 & 315
Featured in the Asian Business Magazine



© 2013 All rights reserved.
Design and Text by Asian Palette Pte Ltd
In The Garden 1 // 915 x 685 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
In The Garden 2 // 915 x 685 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
In The Garden 3 // 915 x 609 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
In The Garden 4 // 915 x 609 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
Yellow Field // 915 x 609 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
In The Garden 5 // 915 x 685 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
A Place in Inlay // 609 x 915 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
:: SOLD :: Shan Market // 508 x 1016 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
Lonely // 1016 x 508 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
A Place in Shan State // 610 x 457 mm // Acrylic on Canvas
HLAING BWA
b. 1950
ARTIST'S WORKS: