Art of opportunity
Four NTU alumni trace their creative journeys that began on campus. Their work now reaches audiences across Singapore and around the world.
Text: Vivien Yap | Photos: Clio Chuang, Ho Jun Sheng, Jolene Tan, Qi Rong, Toby Tan
Toby’s artwork adorned an entire flight of stairs at Funan Singapore in 2025.
Toby Tan entered NTU’s School of Art, Design & Media (ADM) as a science student with no formal art background.
“NTU was my first arts education,” says the 2026 Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award winner. Surrounded by peers with years of experience and a portfolio to match, he turned to freelance work to catch up, developing the discipline he has since built his career on.
Jolene Tan, Ho Jun Sheng and Clio Chuang each found their own starting points on campus too.
Jun Sheng got his start at a hall anniversary event, laying out a few sticker designs and postcards on a table.
Clio sold her first art prints at the NTU Arts Festival.
“Watching people take an interest in my work made me realise my art had value to other people,” she
recalls.
Clio balances illustrating with a full-time career as a UX Architect at DSTA and has designed for LiHO and Wingstop as part of Singapore Art Week.
Jolene first learnt to animate in an ADM class, guided by a lecturer whose encouragement gave her the confidence to explore a career in animation. Her journey has come full circle as she now teaches this same class that kickstarted her own career.
Finding a unique style
During a meetup with Prof Jesvin Yeo after graduation, Toby was reminded by her that presentation of his work, not just its execution, was one of his strengths.
“Sometimes you only know your strengths based on what you see,” Toby reflects. “Having someone reinforce that really mattered.”
That process of discovering what worked and what didn’t shaped Toby’s practice as much as any single skill. He realised early on that flyer and poster design didn’t appeal to him, leading him to focus on illustration instead.
His visual style has evolved considerably since, from detailed line work to the bolder, storytelling-driven murals he is known for today, though his interest in history and narrative has stayed constant throughout.
Toby created his first mural on the wall of a cafe in Singapore’s Arab Street for a school assignment. His work has since taken him overseas, including street art in Turkey (left) and designing a series of graphic tees for Nike in 2024 (right).
Toby’s illustrations have also appeared on major collaborations with brands such as Nike and Hyundai. “Brands approach me for collaborations because of my unique style, but I still write to them regularly to maintain our working relationship,” he says.
Jolene’s own style shift came from a trip to a well-known international animation festival in Croatia during her final year at NTU.
Jolene’s animations have been displayed on screens across the MRT network as part of Poems on the MRT. The National Arts Council initiative spotlights local literature through excerpts of Singapore poetry displayed across selected train networks from 2025 to 2026.
Jun Sheng found a connection between science and art, using diagrams from his dengue and Zika virus research to sharpen his skills in using illustrations to break down complex scientific concepts. He hopes to bring science education into his work with Mito, a green, pea-shaped character he created.
Jun Sheng’s character Mito, once a private Instagram doodle, appeared on a life-sized double-decker bus marking Singapore’s 60th birthday in 2025.
Toby feels that growing recognition comes with a responsibility to mentor. He has taken part in mentorship programmes pairing him with younger creatives and has conducted talks back at his alma mater. “I try to show younger artists what’s possible,” he says. “I never thought I’d get to do half of what I’ve done.”
This article first appeared in issue 8 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.
