Izat Arif


Publications
Bio + CV
Contact

©2025 Izat Arif



Izat Arif (b. 1986) is an artist based in Kuala Lumpur whose works range from drawings and installations to videos and objects. In Izat's work, power structures are given their own personal identities, with him cheekily role-playing the characters of some of our puppet masters in property development, bureaucracy, and art criticism. His approach is often journalistic, where satire is fused with a responsive leaping between different subjects that speak to current revelations in popular media and culture.

Recent solo exhibitions by Izat include Tinggal Kenangan, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur (2024); Gentle Reminders, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2020); Kenangan itu, hanya mainan bagimu…, Mutual Aid Projects, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2020) and Semangat Kejiranan, Everybody Loves Good Neighbours, The Vitrine, NTU CCA, Singapore (2018). Selected group exhibitions include Pure Intentions, Singapore Biennale, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, (2025); The Plantation Plot, Ilham Gallery & KADIST, (2025); Travel Agency, presented by A+ Works of Art, HeluTrans ArtSpace, Singapore (2022); Fragmenting Yesterday, Reshaping Tomorrow, ICAD, Jakarta (2022); and Domestic Bliss, Pollination, co-developed with The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre Vietnam, Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019). In 2024, Izat was a recipient of the Leipzig International Artist Programme, Leipzig, Germany and the ACME-Khazanah Artist Residency in London in 2022.

CV
Education
2010-2012
2004-2009

Solo Exhibitions
2024

2020

2018
2016

Selected Group Exhibitions
2025

2024


2023



2022








2021



2020


2019






2018

2017


2016
2013




Residencies
2024
2022
2018



BA (Hons) in Drawing, Camberwell College of Art, London, U.K.
Diploma in Fine Art, Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Tinggal Kenangan, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur.
Kadang Kadang Dekat Dekat Akan Datang No. 6 Izat Arif, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur.
Gentle Reminders, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kenangan itu, hanya mainan bagimu..., Mutual Aid Projects, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Semangat Kejiranan, Everybody Loves Good Neighbours, The Vitrine, NTU CCA Singapore.
Experience Controversy: Izat Arif, Lorong Kekabu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Pure Intentions, Singapore Biennale, Singapore.
The Plantation Plot, Kadist Foundation & ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Forgotten Specimen, Leipzig International Art Programme, Leipzig, Germany.
Level 13 A, Hotel Art Fair, Bangkok, Thailand.
S.E.A Focus, Serial and Massively Parallel, Tanjong Pagar Districtpark, Singapore.
New Tropics, Appetite, Singapore.
Swallow & Spit Part 1, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ARTJOG 2023, Motif: Lamaran, Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
Paraphrase, Part 1 & 2, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bilik Sejahtera, Unit A: Seni Tiga, KongsiKL, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Proximities, Objectifs Center For Photography And Film, Singapore Art Week 2022, Singapore.
Ilham Art Show, ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Possible Futures, Impossible Present, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A+ Works of Art Anniversary Show, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Immediate Conception, A+ Works of Art & Blank Canvas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Travel Agency, A+ Works of Art & Helu Trans Artspace, Singapore.
Fragmenting Yesterday, Reshaping Tomorrow, ICAD, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Curtain Call, A+ Works of Art, CIMB Art and Soul, Kuala Lumpur.
wawasan.directory, Cloud Projects (online)
dunia/akhirat, Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
No Vacany, A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
KL Art Book Fair, The Godown, Kuala Lupur Malaysia.
In Our Own Frame, 10th Year Anniversary, Richard Koh Fine Art, Gillman Barracks, Singapore.
Locating Malaysian Contemporary Art: The Echo Boomers, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Genset, Gajah Gallery, Singapore.
Domestic Bliss, Pollination (The Factory, Vietnam), Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
an intimacy that allies us.... organized by Sikap Group, Singapore.
Genset, Gajah Gallery, Whitebox, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Awan & Tanah, Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Only Connect Satellite Show, Tempat Bibah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Only Connect Osaka, Creative Center Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
Drawing Matters?, HOM Art Trans, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A History of Drawing, Camberwell Space, London, U.K.
HalalHaram, Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Hell Heaven, Charity Show, Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Malaysian Art New Perspective, Richard Koh Fine Art, Bangsar, Malaysia. 
Only Connect: Drop, Goodman Art Center, Singapore. 
Merdeka Show, MAIX, Lorong Kekabu, Malaysia
Futuremaps, Lethanby Gallery, London, UK.
Young Malaysian Artist; New Object(ion) II, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
M50, Whitebox, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bakat Muda Sezaman 2013, Balai Seni Visual Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Leipzig International Art Programme, Leipzig, Germany.
ACME-Khazanah Artist Residency, London, United Kingdom.
NTU-CCA Singapore Artist in Residence (5th cycle), Singapore.