Rooney Ong Jing Ren is an artist from Malaysia. His mission is to use empathy and compassion to inspire people
to find beauty and meaning in unconventional and unusual medium, materials, and places.
He works primarily in acrylic on wood and is best known for the technique of applying paint to a wood surface in
order to form a pattern or image. By identifying a specific piece of wood’s unique characteristics of strength,
durability, grain, and colour. He utilizes wood as a living material that incorporates the organic, irregular forms he
has always been drawn to. Bio
Born November 3, 1991
Currently lives and works in Boston, MA
info@rooneyojr.com | www.rooneyojr.com
Rooney Ong Jing Ren is an artist and graphic designer from Malaysia. He was previously a mural artist for Wall
Tailor where he worked on interior designs across Kuala Lumpur. He works primarily in acrylic on wood and is best
known for the technique of applying paint to a wood surface in order to form a pattern or image. By identifying a
specific piece of wood’s unique characteristics of strength, durability, grain, and colour, He is able to bring out
patterns and images on its irregular, organic forms using paint and other materials.
Education
Taylor University, BA (Hons) Graphic Communication Design
Work experiences
2018 – 2019 - Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan (Digital Designer)
2015 – 2016 - Frizzle Digital Sdn Bhd (Visual Artist)
2014 – 2015 - Wall Tailor (Mural Artist / Graphic Designer)
2013 – 2014 - Frame Motion Studio Sdn Bhd (Graphic Designer)
Solo exhibition
2020 - Somerville Open Studio - Somerville, USA (May 2, 3)
2019 - Brickbottom Open Studio - Somerville, USA
2019 - Iron River Studio “Part of Her” Kuala Lumpur, MY
Group exhibition
2019 - The Hidden Art Gallery - Boston, USA
2019 - Brickbottom Gallery - Somerville, USA
2019 - The Bakery Lobby Gallery - Somerville, USA
2019 - Conceptions Art Show - Boston, USA
2019 - Sri Bestari international School “Lost Inside” - Kuala Lumpur, MY
2016 - White Box Publika, “Suits” - Kuala Lumpur, MY
2016 - SMJK Triang, “Pattern” - Pahang, MY
Publications
2019 - “In The Vessel of Mankind” The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Dec 26
2019 - “Uncontrollable” The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Oct 28
2019 - “Artist To Watch” Exclamation! Magazine summer 2019 issue, p. 39, Sep 1
2019 - Curated by Rebecca McLaren, Polemical Zine Issue 09: Question - Volume 2. Jul 2
2019 - “Uncontrollable” Postscript Publication, Jul 1
2019 - “Warmth” Fine Art Collection, Apero Catalogue, p. 44, Jun 30
2019 - Jeff Lee “His World of Imagination” Worldwide Consumer Prestige, p. 11-12
2019 - “Weekend by numbers,” The Edge Financial Daily, p. 22, Jan 11
2015 - Julia. “Q + A with Tattify Artist,” Tattify, Jul 6
2014 - Nicolas Simoneau. “Interview with Rooney Ong,” Kaltbult Magazine, Jul 12
2013 - Antennae of Inspiration: The Insect Art Project, p. 136