Born in 1960 in Le Gaing village, Magway Division (central Myanmar), Zaw Win Pe grew up and later trained as an artist in Yangon, attending the State School of Fine Arts, Yangon from 1981 to 1984.
Zaw Win Pe is known for his vibrant, expressive landscapes and masterful use of colour and brush-work. His art frequently explores the hills and terrain of Myanmar, particularly the colourful autumn landscapes of the Shan State, often rendered with thick, textured paint and a palette that bursts with emotion.
Over his career he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Myanmar and internationally (including Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, Germany, France, Canada and more). He was awarded the prestigious Myanmar Contemporary Art Awards in 2004 and a second prize in 2008. His work has been acquired by notable institutions such as the Singapore Art Museum and the U.S. Embassy in Yangon.
In his own words, Zaw Win Pe believes that colour can tell everything about a person’s thoughts and feelings—and his works aim to express elemental moods of place and emotion rather than exact topographic detail.
By blending deeply felt emotional colour with visual scenes rooted in Myanmar’s landscapes, Zaw Win Pe stands as one of his country’s leading contemporary painters—his work inviting viewers not just to see a scene, but to feel the atmosphere behind it.