S'porean artist Chen Yi Quan, 44, dies a year after wife, leaves behind son, 3

Singaporean artist Kelvin Tan Ee Chuan, known by his artist name Chen Yi Quan, has passed away recently.

This comes a year after the demise of his wife, who died of a heart attack in May 2025.

The couple, both in their 40s, leave behind a son who turns four years old this year, according to a Facebook post by former media practitioner Woon Tai Ho.

"After the sudden loss of his wife last year, he struggled to go on. I still remember standing at her wake; he was inconsolable.

He leaves behind a young son, not yet four. My heart aches for the child, who will one day need to know how much his father loved art and life."

Self-taught artist

According to his Instagram page, Tan was a Singaporean self-taught artist painter.

Tan studied at Maris Stella and Hwa Chong Junior College before studying psychology at the National University of Singapore.

He began his career in social work before shifting to the corporate sector.

After 10 years, he pivoted to become a full-time artist.

He apprenticed under Lim Tze Peng, a Singaporean master painter and opened an art studio in Upper Serangoon.

Tributes

Tributes have poured in following the news of Tan's passing.

According to former Non-constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong, who provided a space for Tan to use as his studio, Tan's passion for art was palpable.

"He loved to incorporate philosophy into his pieces, which were often in very large format, so large that the entire 300 sqf space that I provided him overflowed and he used the corridor space as well."

His style eventually evolved into an abstract surrealist style that hybridised the Nanyang style, European art and the cubist tradition, according to his artist biography on the contemporary art website, The Artling.

Yee shared that Tan had called him recently, saying that he needed to "get work urgently" and was "trying to get his life back".

"Then, I found that out today that the very next day, he was no more."

Fellow artist Sonny Liew also posted a tribute on Facebook, stating that he met the Tan in 2025 and "had expected to see him again".

Top photo from Chen Yi Quan/Instagram.