Poh Ling Yeow

Yeow works mainly with acrylic paint on canvas.[17] Her early works featured heavily textured backgrounds[18] whereas recent works present a smoother,[19] more refined and highly detailed finish.[12][20]

Elements of her Chinese heritage feature in her work, including the goldfish, a symbol of prosperity and good luck in Chinese culture, lotus flowers, ponds, and Australian flora and fauna.[21] A recurring character in Yeow's recent work is one that she calls The Girl ("my autobiographical twin"[21]), who she refers to in the third person, although the character's facial features are clearly similar to Yeow's.[22] She says "I guess [The Girl] was developed as a cathartic act, in terms of embracing everything that I did hate about myself physically: the broad nose, the Asian eyes, the broad face".[12]

A further theme behind her recent body of work was Yeow's split with her partner of 10 years, with titles including "Was That the Last Goodbye?" and "You Haven't Left and I Miss You Already". Her Mermaid series, with The Girl's clothes fashioned from goldfish scales and fins, is about losing your identity and taking on your partner's.[12]

From her first solo exhibition in 2002, Yeow has been a regular exhibitor at the Hill Smith Gallery.[23] She has also appeared regularly at Libby Edwards Gallery.[16] Yeow's work has been featured or critically reviewed in publications such as Vogue Australia, House & Garden, The Advertiser and mX.[24]

In 2003, Yeow donated an artwork to raise funds for breast cancer research at Flinders Medical Centre.[25] In 2007, Yeow's artwork was used on the cover of the book The Chinese Exotic by Olivia Khoo.[26] She was also a judge for Youthscape 2008.[27] In 2009, Yeow appeared in a glamour shoot for Who magazine.[28]

In 2018, Yeow was the subject of a lengthy radio interview with Richard Fidler on Conversations.[29]

Yeow first appeared on the ABC television program Beat the Chef on 13 April 2005.[30] Her auntie Kim Thoo assisted her in the studio kitchen, where she prepared Ying Yang Prawns.[31] She returned to the program on 15 June 2005, assisted by her friend Felicity Electricity.[32] This time she prepared Basil Thai Fried Rice[33] and Deep-Fried Dory Fillets with Green Mango.[34]

Yeow was selected in the top 20 contestants for the first series of MasterChef Australia from over 7000 applicants.[35] Competition and eliminations began in May 2009. Yeow was eliminated on 18 June 2009 when she incorrectly guessed the ingredients in minestrone.[36] She was one of three eliminated contestants allowed to return to the program on 1 July 2009.[37] She survived further eliminations to compete in the final on 19 July 2009 against Julie Goodwin.[38] Goodwin won the final, with Yeow runner-up.[39]

Yeow appeared with Matt Preston[40] in the World Chef Showcase in October 2009.[41]

Yeow signed with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for a cooking series (Poh's Kitchen) and a two-book publishing deal with ABC Books.[42] The production on the series began in November 2009 in her home town of Adelaide.[43] The series was aired from 10 February 2010.[44] Yeow was nominated for the Logie Awards of 2011 in the category of Most Popular New Female Talent.[45]

In 2011, the ABC broadcast a second season of Poh's Kitchen, entitled Poh's Kitchen on the Road. Yeow travelled to all Australian states, as well as Singapore and Thailand, to film stories on produce and cooking.[46] A third season premiered on 11 September 2012.[47]

In 2015, Yeow launched a new series, Poh & Co., on SBS. It features various styles of cooking, and also the renovation of Yeow's backyard.[48]

Yeow opened a gourmet food stall, Jamface by Poh, at the Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market.[49] In 2016 Yeow opened a cafe at Adelaide Central Market, also named Jamface by Poh.[50] It closed on 15 October 2019.[51]

In 2019, Yeow returned to MasterChef Australia as a mentor, sharing the position with season eight runner-up Matt Sinclair and season seven winner Billie McKay.[52] In 2020, Yeow returned to MasterChef Australia as a contestant in Back to Win and placed 6th.[53]

In August 2023, it was announced that she would be teaming up with fellow MasterChef contestant Adam Liaw, to host a brand new cooking show on SBS titled Adam & Poh's Great Australian Bites. The show features the hosting duo travelling around Australia to different cities and coastlines and cooking with the locals.[54][55][56]

In October 2023, Network 10 announced that Yeow would be joining the forthcoming sixteenth season of MasterChef Australia as a permanent host and judge, alongside fellow new judges Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli, as well as returning judge Andy Allen.[57][58] It came after the sudden death of former judge Jock Zonfrillo and the departure of Melissa Leong.[59][60][61]