Jolene Liam : Redefining Space Through Art and Architecture
Blurring the boundaries between architecture and art, Singapore-born, London-based artist Jolene crafts work that challenges the way we perceive and inhabit space. With an architectural pedigree honed at firms such as Studio Egret West and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Jolene’s artistic practice is infused with a deep understanding of structure, materiality, and the intangible qualities that define our environments.
Her education at the National University of Singapore, Technische Universität München, and the University of Westminster laid the groundwork for her multidisciplinary approach. This foundation allows her to seamlessly transition between built forms and artistic expression, creating work that exists in the "in-between"—neither strictly drawing nor sculpture, neither fully defined nor entirely abstract.
Jolene’s work has garnered widespread recognition. She has been highly commended in the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Eye Line Drawing Competition in both 2018 and 2021, securing a prestigious third-place award in 2024. Her explorations in line, space, and perception have also earned her shortlist nominations for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Art Gemini Prize, and World Illustration Awards. Exhibitions at the Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, The Royal Watercolour Society Open, and the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair further cement her status as a rising force in contemporary art and architecture.
Beyond her personal artistic practice, Jolene contributes to the creative community through her participation in the Off-Site Program at Turps Art School and 'The Bigger Picture' at the Essential School of Painting, expanding the discourse around architectural and spatial thinking in contemporary art. Her insights have also been published in multiple issues of the RIBA Journal, a testament to her ability to articulate the intersections of design and artistic vision.
Jolene’s work is an invitation—an invitation to reconsider the spaces we move through, to question the unseen forces that shape our perceptions, and to engage in a dialogue with the built world in ways both familiar and unexpected. Her unique perspective as both an architect and artist positions her as a vital voice in the ever-evolving conversation about how we experience space, structure, and self.