Born in 1946 Taiping, Perak, Malaysia.
Received primary and secondary education in Penang, Malaysia.
1969: Dip Ed (Art) Gaya College, Sabah, Malaysia..
1976: BFA Monash University, Australia.
1982: Scholarship to New York Studio School, New York.
1984: International Teaching Fellowship to lecture at Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
Eric has won many international awards, among them:
- 1st Prize Bulan Bahasa poster design, Sabah, Malaysia in 1969
- 1st Prize the Arches Rives Paris in 1976
- 1st Prize the Contemporary Art Society Australia in 1977
- 1st Prize the Royal Overseas League Australia in 1978
- 1st Prize the Swiss Omega Acquisitive Art Switzerland in 1983 and 1990.
- Grand Prize (Asia Art Award) South Korea 2013
Since 1968, Eric Quah has held 43 one-man shows including those in New York(Hammerquist Gallery, 1982), China (Nanjing College of the Arts, 1984), Singapore (Notices Gallery, 1993), Taipei (Seiko Gallery, 1972; Heritage Gallery, 1993), Kuala Lumpur (Art Salon, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Fringe Festival, 1994), Australia: Adelaide (Anima Gallery, 1995), Tasmania (Freeman Gallery, 1987), Melbourne(Young Originals, 1978,79,81,83,85,90, 92; Gallery of Melbourne, 1987, 88; East and West Art, 1974, 2001; Melbourne (International Art Fair, 2002). Penang ( Conservatory of Fine Art, 1990, 1992; Art Gallery 1998; Alpha Utara Gallery 2006). China (This is the Moment: Nanjing and Beijing 2006). Kuala Lumpur (Sawah Padi: The Gallery @ Star Hill 2007; A Boat 2010).
November 2011: Eric Quah Retrospective at the Penang State Art Gallery, Malaysia. Monograph of 320 pages launched.
His paintings are in public and private collections in USA, Canada, England, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and SE Asia.
Early paintings of Eric Quah signed ‘Hiang’.
Eric Quah lived in Australia, New York and China for 31 years. In 2003, he moved back to live and paint full time in Penang, Malaysia.