Making Paper Bloom
Prestige Women of Power 2025

Through her delicate, large-scale floral sculptures and intricate paper installations, paper artist Koh Pei Li invites city dwellers to slow down and reconnect with the beauty of nature. For the past 11 years, the artist has transformed fragile, sustainably sourced materials including paper, organza, foam and aluminium, into tactile, organic forms that radiate symbolism, strength and wonder.

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Her recent floral installation Blooming Windmill, a 4.5m-tall structure outside Paragon Shopping Centre, was so well-received it is now set to find a permanent home at a local hospital, thanks to its calming mental health message. “It is a quiet celebration of resilience and reminds us that even something delicate can keep moving with the lightest breeze,” says Koh.

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Her creations not only last longer than botanical arrangements, but also offer deep emotional resonance. For instance, her paper bridal bouquets double up as a lasting keepsake from a special day. This sensitive blend of natural forms and visual storytelling has led to ongoing collaborations with fashion and lifestyle brands like Gin Lee and The Missing Piece.

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Koh is also nurturing the next generation through PeiPer Arts School, a bilingual creative space she founded to blend language learning with themed crafting activities. What began as a passion project inspired by time spent creating with her daughters has now grown into a school with over 130 students. She is in the process of integrating more STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) elements for the older 9-to-12 age group to support their development.

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“With the rise of artificial intelligence and automation, it is even more vital to equip children with the kinds of skills machines cannot replicate, like imagination, adaptability and creative thinking,” says Koh, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. “I aim to empower children with the confidence to think differently and find beauty in both logic and intuition.”