Photographed by: Ngoh Shian Bang
Dawn is a multi-disciplinary visual artist who has worked primarily with painting and sculpture. Art has become Dawn’s mentor and humbler alongside her own inner work journey, which has inspired her to share art therapy as a mode of healing for those around her to realise the depths of their true nature.
As an art psychotherapist, Dawn’s passion lies in working in women’s empowerment and addiction rehabilitation from a people-centric, insight-oriented, psychodynamic approach. Dawn also currently is an outpatient addictions counsellor at The Cabin, Singapore. She has guided and supported individuals and groups in private art psychotherapy sessions and art-based wellness workshops. Dawn is passionate about sharing love, building connections and being present in journeying with her clients.
Dawn works closely with several charities to serve vulnerable populations. She has auctioned her artworks and raised over S$400,000 for various charities including: Vietnam Outreach, The New Charis Mission, National Cancer Institute, Heart Foundation, Kidney Dialysis Foundation and AWWA. She has completed over 400 paintings and has held nine major solo art exhibitions in collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board in Beijing, The American Club, Spanish Tourism Office and Swiss Embassy.
solo exhibitions
Sept 2021 "Fervent Flow" 9th Major Solo Exhibition Singapore,
Organised and supported by The American Club, Singapore
Aug 2017 “Synthesis” 8th Major Solo Exhibition,
Singapore Supported by City Neon and Ion Art Gallery, Singapore
Feb 2012 “Colours of Instinct” 7th Solo Exhibition, Singapore
Organised and supported by 7 Adam Restaurant, Singapore
Sept 2011 “Energy In Colours” 6th Solo Exhibition, Singapore
Organised by Going Dutch Furniture Retail, Singapore
May 2010 “Joie De Vivre!” 5th Solo Exhibition, Singapore
Nov 2009 “Swiss Exuberance” 4th Solo Exhibition, Singapore
In collaboration with the Swiss Embassy, Singapore
Sept 2008 “Spanish Breeze” 3rd Solo Exhibition, Singapore (Tour of Spain)
In collaboration with Spanish Tourism Office, Singapore
Oct 2007 “Voices of Nature” 2nd Solo Exhibition, Beijing, China Singapore Seasons In China
Supported by STB & CapitaLand Mall in Xi Zhi Men, Beijing
Nov 2006 “Nine” 1st Solo Exhibition at The Arts House, Singapore
group exhibitions
Jan 2009 1st Singapore International Art Festival, Singapore Expo National Digital Art Award
July 2006 Exhibition at The Art Cafe, Esplanade
May 2006 Exhibition for The Budding Artist Fund at The Arts House
advocacy, volunteer work & talks
08 Oct 2021 Speaker in An Open Invitation Podcast
Ep 24 – The Transformative Power Of Art & Regulating Emotions
27 Mar 2021 Panelist in Lokalfeed Online Panel Discussion
Breaking the Silence on Sexual Misconduct with Dani Pereira, Suli Tang & Nicole Lim
29 Aug 2020 Panelist in Hillside Talks: Creating & Living in a Changing World:
Moving to a New Beat- Discussing challenges, new opportunities & resources for
art professionals that have emerged from the current Covid-19 climate
30 July 2020 Ashoka Foundation Coffee for Change Youth Mental Health Virtual Panel
Panelists: Dawn Kwan, Keith Chua, Sachin Chaudhary
Co-Facilitated by Anthea Ong & Rajesh Varghese
11 May 2020 Co-publisher of "Alchemy of The Self"
Virtual transformation programme merging movement, mental health & mindfulness
10 Mar 2020 Hosted free group art experiential workshops for domestic workers at the
13 Feb 2020 Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME)
18 Jan 2020 Launched & Co-founded Girl, Talk – a digital-first campaign to empower undergraduates
to respond to campus sexual harassment. https://girltalksg.wixsite.com/girltalksg
philanthropy
Oct 2019 GIFT Catholic Foundation Dinner
July 2018 St John’s St Margaret’s Project Spring-Winter at Regent Hotel
July 2017 St John's St Margaret's Project Spring-Winter at Regent Hotel
Oct 2011 Art Auction for Vietnam Outreach at Oasia Hotel
Aug 2011 Fundraising for The New Charis Mission
July 2011 ‘Wellspring’ Art Auction for Amazon Rainforest Project
Feb 2009 Live Painting & Art Auction for Habitat for Humanity
Jun 2008 Art Auction for Goodrich AWWA Charity Event
Oct 2006 Art Auction for Vietnam Outreach @ Ode to Art Gallery, Raffles City
Aug 2006 Art Auction for The New Charis Mission at The Arts House
April 2006 Business Art Auction @ The Pod, National Library Board
June 2005 Young Entrepreneurs Organization Dinner @ The Arts House for Vietnam Outreach
Jan 2019 WKWSCI Professional Certificate
May 2012 World Harmony Run Award
July 2008 27th UOB Painter Of The Year Award 2008, Highly Commended Award
Junior Section Work entitled “When Dawn Overtakes The Night”
Sept 2006 National Digital Collage Competition: Clinched all 3 Consecutive Awards for Judges’ Choice