Lee Kah Yeow, a native of Fujian, China, graduated from the then Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts (now Nanjing Arts Institute) in 1922. In 1926, he moved to Malaya where he worked as an art educator and principal in many Chinese schools and then went into business. He began fully committing himself to art in 1959. Lee avidly studied ancient paintings and traditional calligraphy styles, integrating Chinese and Western methods to create a unique artistic style. His persistence paid off in his later years, as he became renowned for his powerful cursive calligraphy. Charitably, he donated his works and art collection to multiple institutions, such as the National Art Gallery Malaysia, and supported local Chinese education, leaving a valuable legacy.

李家耀，号灿星，晚岁又号西朗老人，祖籍福建永春。1922年毕业于中国艺术大师刘海粟创办的上海美术专门学校（现为南京艺术学院），之后投入教育生涯。1926年举家迁至星马，在多所华人学校担任美术导师和校长，之后从商。1959年正式退出商界，专心追求书画艺术。李家耀深入研究传统名画和各种书法风格，融合中西画法，创造了个人风格。他的努力在晚年达到巅峰，行草书法以气势雄浑和技巧娴熟而闻名，展示了卓越的艺术功底。生前无私地将自己的作品及书画珍藏贡献给社会，如新加坡南洋大学李光前文物馆、马来西亚国家画廊、香港大学冯平山博物馆。