Tio Tjay was born in Jakarta in 1946 was an Indonesian painter who for a long time has reside in Brazil. At a very young age, young Tio Tjay enjoy studying Chinese painting and calligraphy. His talent for art was already sensed by people at youth. In 1967, he immigrated to South American with his family. He held many exhibitions, from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and even Paraguay.

In 1971 till 1975 he resided in Manaus, capital of the Amazon. There Tio met a very similar environment to his home island Java. It is Amazon Rainforest that really inspire him to draw painting about nature. In 1976, he moved back to São Paulo and participate in the exhibition of Bienal Nacional de São Paulo. 1980’s was a great decade for Tio Tjay.

He was invited to join an exhibition in Italy which was held in Naples for a cultural relationship between Brazil and Italy. A few years later, he was again invited to Tukuyama, Japan for a collective exhibition. And in the same year, he returned to Indonesia and worked in his birth country. Tio Tjay’s theme and composition can be seen through the perspective of enjoyment because his works sometimes bring a magical mood to the viewers.

His paintings also dominantly composed with decorative elements from traditional motifs especially the one that developed in Java. Tjay's painting subject are ranging from traditional market scene, harvesting activity, traditional dancers, fishermen as well as animal themes. Tio Tjay’s works appear colorful, dynamic in form and rich in composition variations.

His canvases always end up in calm, tranquil, while emitting the warmth of the tropical atmosphere, the natural atmosphere that is usually encountered in Indonesia and Brazil. His compositions are so graceful in portraying his objects in pulling lines or outlines that tend to move short, broken, stiff and rigid. While in it the colors are composed in solid harmony and often bring accent colors.