Obituary revealed on Legacy.com by A Pure State Funeral Service & Crematory on Jun. 4, 2026.
Ray Sui Hoe Khoo (Khoo Sui Hoe)
July 29, 1939 – Might 31, 2026
Ray Sui Hoe Khoo, aged 86, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, handed away peacefully on Might 31, 2026, surrounded by his loving household.
Born on July 29, 1939, in Kedah, Malaysia, to the late Khoo Ah Sok and the late Hong Hoe, Ray lived a life outlined by creativity, curiosity, and inventive expression. Identified all through the artwork world as Khoo Sui Hoe, he devoted greater than six a long time to the pursuit of artwork, abandoning a outstanding physique of labor that touched collectors, galleries, and fellow artists throughout Malaysia, Singapore, america, and past.
After finding out on the Nanyang Academy of High-quality Arts in Singapore, Ray emerged as one of many pioneering figures of recent Malaysian artwork. All through his distinguished profession, he performed an necessary function in nurturing inventive communities. He served as the primary Supervisor-Curator of Alpha Gallery in Singapore and later based Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang. He was additionally a founding member of the Utara Group in Penang, one in every of Malaysia’s most influential artist collectives.
In recognition of his important contributions to the event of Malaysian artwork, the Penang State Artwork Gallery mounted The Painted World of Khoo Sui Hoe: Retrospective of Khoo Sui Hoe in 2007, celebrating his outstanding inventive achievements and enduring affect on the nation’s cultural panorama. His work, celebrated for his or her dreamlike imagery, vibrant colors, and deeply private symbolism, had been exhibited and picked up internationally. His works are held within the collections of the Penang State Artwork Gallery, the Kedah State Artwork Gallery, the Nationwide Artwork Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, the Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Singapore Artwork Museum, the Nationwide Gallery Singapore, and the Nationwide Gallery of Victoria, Australia, amongst quite a few non-public and institutional collections worldwide.
In 1974, Ray was awarded the John D. Rockefeller third Fund Grant, an early recognition of his inventive promise and achievement. In 1982, he and his household made their residence in america, first settling in Texas earlier than transferring to Arkansas, the place he continued his lifelong dedication to portray. Though he exhibited extensively all through america, he discovered specific pleasure in sharing his work throughout Asia, sustaining a significant connection to his roots, tradition, and household.
Regardless of reaching worldwide recognition as an artist, these closest to him knew him foremost as a loyal husband, father, and grandfather. His creativity prolonged far past the canvas, enriching the lives of these round him. All through his life, he remained deeply related to each his Southeast Asian heritage and his adopted residence in America, persevering with to create, exhibit, and encourage nicely into his later years.
Ray is survived by his beloved spouse, Shu Khoo, with whom he co-owned Distinctive Furnishings for 30 years; his kids, Yolim, Yomei (Mike), Joanne (Andrew), Angela, and Jolli (Rachel); and his grandchildren, Isabella, Tristan, Gabriella, Joe, Geoffrey, Joseph, and Jason.
Ray’s legacy lives on via the numerous artworks he created, the artists he impressed, and the household he cherished. His boundless creativeness, inventive imaginative and prescient, generosity of spirit, and delicate nature will probably be remembered by all who had the privilege of realizing him.
He will probably be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
Preparations by A Pure State Funeral Service 2620 West Important Road, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. On-line guestbook out there at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
