Bogalay Kyaw Hlaing (1914-1996) was a Burmese Asian Modern & Contemporary artist who was born in 1914. Studied under Ba Nyan for six years. Developed an independent “naive style” in realist and impressionist works (watercolor and oil).

Kyaw Hlaing was born on 28 September 1914 in Bogalay (in the present-day Ayeyarwady Region), son of wealthy parents with an interest in art. He studied art at Aid National Middle School. At the age of 18, with Ba Kyi, Aye Maung and Thein Han, he became a student under the master Ba Nyan, who had learned European oil painting techniques in London. After the Second World War he entered a national painting competition, winning prizes in the still life, figure and landscape categories, and the overall gold prize. He found work as an art instructor in Bogalay, later moving to Yangon where he taught in high schools for many years.

U Kyaw Hlaing’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 1,108 USD to 8,764 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork. Since 2018 the record price for this artist at auction is 8,764 USD for Christie’s Hong Kong in 2018. The artist died in 1996.