Born East. Shine West.
WM Arte Gallery is the one-stop atelier shaping the future of illustration, art, and branding — a Kuala Lumpur project space with a Paris address, built around Lihuà and Galerie Martel.
About
WM Arte Gallery is founded around Lihuà (Wong Lai Wah), a Malaysian illustrator who has spent since 2011 folding Chinese calligraphy into Western watercolour — work commissioned by Bulgari, Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Chaumet, Prada, Dior, Hugo Boss, Balmain, Longines, Bata, and Airbnb. She teaches fashion illustration at Esmod KL alongside her own studio practice.
Co-founders Michele and Simone Mattotti bring the gallery's other half from Italy: Simone connects Paris and Brussels through Galerie Martel, fifteen years deep in illustration, comics, and graphic art. Between Kuala Lumpur, Paris, and Brussels, WM Arte runs exhibitions, sells limited prints, and takes on illustration, branding, and consulting work directly.
In China, WM Arte works through a long-term collaboration with Phillus, our agent in Nanjing and Paris. Through that partnership, Lihuà — a 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards finalist — has shown alongside Lorenzo Mattotti at the Shanghai Illustration Festival and illustrated for Chanel's 2026 Haute Couture collection. Press: New Straits Times, Elle, Tatler, Grazia, Città Bella, Huawei Consumer.
Exhibitions
Between shows, works from past exhibitions and studio consultations are by appointment — reach out.
1 – 30 July 2026 · closing this week
Starhill, Eslite Spectrum, Kuala Lumpur
Fashion illustration in tribute to Malaysia's leading designers and their takes on traditional costume — unconventional brush strokes bringing together old and new, giving underrepresented Malaysian fashion the spotlight it's due.
30 July – 13 August 2026 · opens this week
Starhill, Eslite Spectrum, Kuala Lumpur
Paris's Galerie Martel brings a decade of graphic art to Kuala Lumpur, anchored by Lorenzo Mattotti's illustration, comics, and painting.
By invitation — Louis Vuitton Travel Book: Exclusive Originals, 1 August, Private Chamber. Originals from Mattotti, Giandelli, Lihuà, Ott, and Evens. RSVP Mick, +60 14 638 9453.
Previously
Also in the works for 2026: Penang, Udine, Paris, Hong Kong. Get in touch for dates as they're confirmed.
Contact
For exhibitions, illustration, branding, or consulting enquiries.