She began with wedding decor—now her giant paper flowers tower all over S’pore

Koh Pei Li is a self-taught artist who creates elaborate paper flower installations

If you’ve spotted massive, intricate floral installations at Gardens by the Bay, Paragon, or even across Singapore’s public spaces in recent years, chances are you’ve encountered the work of Koh Pei Li. 

One of Singapore’s few paper artists, Pei Li has carved out a distinctive path as a self-taught creative, managing a growing portfolio of commissions while running her own art school. Her husband, Symond Lim, oversees operations and finances, freeing her to focus entirely on her craft.

We spoke with the couple to learn more about the unconventional path that brought her here—one shaped by an unshakeable belief that art has a place in Singapore.

Creativity has always been part of her life

Married in 2014 and now in their 40s, Pei Li began running her art practice, PeiPer, in 2022, together with her husband. She is best known today for her intricate mixed-media flower sculptures.

However, the idea took root almost a decade earlier—the year she got married.

Born to a carpenter father and a seamstress mother, creativity had always been part of Pei Li’s life. She grew up immersed in arts and crafts, including curating clothing on her now-closed blog shop and making accessories from vintage buttons. Naturally, she wanted to bring that creativity into her own wedding decor.

While researching decor ideas, she stumbled upon paper flowers and decided to try making them herself. After friends and relatives saw her handmade decorations, requests for wedding styling began pouring in.

At the time, she also noticed more couples opting to replace fresh flowers with other alternatives, so she began taking on these projects alongside her full-time job in the chemical industry, driven by a longstanding desire to build something of her own.

Starting her own art school

But two years later, becoming a mother led her to step away from both her corporate career and side hustle to focus fully on her two children.

Immersed in parenting, Pei Li discovered new ways to channel her creativity.

While continuing to refine her paper-flower techniques, she also explored hands-on activities that combined simple science with craft—from baking soda–vinegar reactions to homemade dough and other DIY materials—keeping her daughters engaged without screens.

She shared these activities online, and friends and family, inspired by her innovations, began asking for ideas to keep their own children occupied. In response, she created craft kits with bilingual English–Mandarin instructions. By late 2020, she was also running small-group crafting sessions from her living room, which was converted into a temporary studio—an experience that ignited her passion for teaching.

This eventually propelled her to formalise her efforts. In 2022, Symond left his corporate job and joined Pei Li to co-found PeiPer Arts School, located at Phoenix Park, which offers arts and craft classes for children.

After two years, they relocated to a larger space in New Bahru, which cost six figures to renovate. The studio offers weekly 75-minute classes starting from S$60, and has seen steady demand.

Pei Li now teaches around 150 students weekly, and shared that revenue has doubled since the move.

Creating installations for luxury brands & shopping malls

Beyond teaching, Pei Li continues to grow as an artist, focusing on her paper flower craft. The same year she opened her studio, she began accepting commission requests, launching her company, PeiPer.

Each project starts with a small-scale prototype, which is then expanded into a large installation over weeks or months, depending on its complexity.

Material choices depend on the setting—durable aluminium for outdoor works, lighter paper for indoor pieces —and each element is carefully shaped, hand-painted, and combined with intricate details like sequins, fur, and strings to make her flowers as realistic as possible.

She approaches each of her projects with “200% effort,” and is clear about boundaries: “If a project’s budget isn’t aligned with the work required, or if the creative direction becomes too restrictive, we’re comfortable stepping back.”

Pei Li’s portfolio ranges from intimate bouquets to massive installations for public and private collectors, including those overseas.

She has worked with prominent brands such as luxury fragrance label Amaffi, premium cognac brand Hennessy, and Paragon Shopping Centre. Commission requests often come from people who discover her work online or in person.

At the end of their display periods, PeiPer’s installations are repurposed when possible. For instance, a thousand-rose storefront arch designed for a commission with luxury jeweller Chopard was dismantled and gifted to staff as smaller pieces they could display in their offices, rather than being discarded.

“It’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done”

Creating her paper flowers often involves sleepless nights, as Pei Li obsesses over ideas and presentation details. Yet, she remains humbled whenever people recognise her installations or when students spot her work in public—moments that remind her why she perseveres, and reaffirm her decision to leave the corporate world behind.

“It’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. I never want to go back,” she said.

Alongside her installations and PeiPer Arts School, Pei Li also conducts workshops at places including the Singapore Museum, National Gallery Singapore, and Changi Airport, introducing children and adults to the intricacies of paper flower art. However, with back-to-back commissions and installations, these workshops are currently not a priority.

Looking back on her journey, Pei Li hopes her story encourages the next generation—her students, young artists, or anyone who dreams of creating.

“I think people are placing more value on local art now. There’s more appreciation, more pride. Even in a tiny place like this, it’s possible to succeed as long as you have the passion,” she reflected.

Despite being told early on that art had no future, she’s grateful that she chose her own path—and kept going.

• Learn more about PeiPer here.
• Learn more about PeiPer Arts School here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: Knot your average craft: Meet the artisan bringing a traditional Japanese art form to S’pore

Featured Image Credit: PeiPer