Batik Painting Museum Penang
Visited January 2019

I love batik art and Batik Painting Museum Penang has a great selection of over 90 original paintings by some 30 accomplished artists.

The museum occupies a three-storey shophouse in busy Armenian Street in the historic core of George Town. 

Batik painting is a relatively new art form popularised by talented Penang artist Dato' Chuah Thean Teng (1912-2008) in the 1950s (his self-portrait in batik is featured in the museum). Prior to that period batik was used mainly for clothing but he combined batik making skills with fine works of art. Many different batik painting styles can now be found and the museum contains works by various artists including these works below:

'Siesta' is an early work by Koay Soo Kau (born 1946) in 1983 showing a weary tricycle driver taking an afternoon nap.

'Two Trishaws' batik painted on cloth in 2008 by Ismail Mat Hussin (1938-2015). Trishaws are becoming rarer in Malaysia (except for tourist rides) but are still used for transport in parts of Kelantan.

'George Town Heritage City' batik on cloth painted in 1980 by Chuah Siew Teng (born 1944).

'Women at Work' batik painted on cloth in 2007 by Tan Thean Song (1946-2017). This is my favourite.

'Women with Baskets' batik on cloth painted in 1991 by Yong Kheng Wah (born 1945). Kampung houses on stilts in the background.

I notice that most of the artists displayed in the museum were born in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. I hope younger generations are continuing the art otherwise the skills will die out. 

Naturally visitors are able to buy some nice batik art pieces in the shop at the entrance.

Review Verdict

Definitely worth a visit if you are interested in art and/or batik.

Opening Hours & Admission Charges

  • Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Ticket Prices 

  • Admission is RM10 Adults
  • RM5 Students

The price included this nice postcard.

How To Get to Batik Painting Museum Penang

The exact location is marked on this map:

Show the Way

Address: 

19, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Tel: +604-2624 800

GPS: 5.414898, 100.337828

You can find more details on their official website.

Nearby

See my Penang Heritage Trail for details of the many other attractions worth seeing in historic George Town. 

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AUTHOR BIO

cartoon of author with an orangutan

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing firsthand travel advice from over five decades of travel across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published 700+ pages, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places even many Malaysians have never visited.