4am in Flowers by Chia Ooi

Growing up on Christmas Island, Chia spent her childhood immersed in the natural world, developing a lifelong appreciation for its beauty and diversity. After studying Environmental Biology and becoming a primary school teacher, she found ways to combine her passions for nature, science, creativity and play. Later, as a mother of two young boys, she embraced a slower, more intentional lifestyle that deepened her connection to both nature and artistic practice. Working in acrylic, Chia creates expressive floral paintings that balance spontaneity and structure. Her intuitive, painterly brushstrokes and vibrant colour palette invite viewers into a playful and imaginative world inspired by the abundance and joy of flowers. Painting on a small scale allows her to explore a wide variety of blooms while experimenting freely with colour and composition. Sustainability is an important part of her practice, with leftover paint often reused to build texture and layered backgrounds. Through each work, Chia shares her delight in colour, flowers and the dreamlike possibility of a tiny house nestled within a field of blooms.