Biography
Singaporean artist Israfil Ridhwan (b. 1999) is a visual storyteller. He transposes the lived and dreamed experiences of himself into a colourful and intimate arrangement of warm-hued canvases. The oil paintings of Israfil feature poster-like compositions, an alluring medley of relayed narratives and inspirations. Vivid colours, soft-blended brush strokes, and stoic looking figures welcome audiences to walk through a series of self-reflection and fantasy.
Portraiture, movement, and drama breeze through Israfil’s collection of works as he crafts a harmonious marriage of encounters with various cultural influences. Inspiration from artists like Frida Kahlo and various renaissance masters is apparent throughout his works. Israfil's works reflect a range of nuanced emotions, including self-criticism, obsession, and intimate portrayals of love, grief and loss.
Israfil Ridhwan graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (2020) with a Diploma in Fine Arts and has since participated in group exhibitions including, Art SG (2023) and (2024), Summer Group Show (2023), Little Red Dot – Singapore and London Edition (2022), Fresh Take (2021). Israfil held his first solo exhibition, The Divine Comedy in 2021, his second solo show Spaces In-Between in 2023 at Cuturi Gallery, and most recently, Art Paris in 2025.
Exhibitions
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Some Things Last a Long Time
Israfil Ridhwan 12 Apr - 17 May 2025 SingaporeRead more -
Art Paris 2025
Israfil Ridhwan 3 - 6 Apr 2025 Art FairsRead more -
Summer Group Show 2024
Group Exhibition 17 Aug - 7 Sep 2024 SingaporeRead more -
Taipei Dangdai 2024
Aisha Rosli, Faris Heizer, Israfil Ridhwan and Khairulddin Wahab 9 - 12 May 2024 Art FairsRead more -
ART SG 2024
Aisha Rosli, Casey Tan, Faris Heizer, Israfil Ridhwan, Khairulddin Wahab, Marla Bendini, Shen Jiaqi and Vanessa Liem 19 - 21 Jan 2024 Art Fairs, SingaporeRead more -
Summer Group Show 2023
Group Exhibition 15 Jul - 27 Aug 2023 SingaporeRead more -
ART SG
Aisha Rosli, Faris Heizer, Israfil Ridhwan, Khairulddin Wahab and Shen Jiaqi 12 - 15 Jan 2023 Art FairsRead more -
Little Red Dot - London Edition
Group Exhibition 26 Oct - 6 Nov 2022 LondonRead more -
Little Red Dot - Singapore Edition
Group Exhibition 20 Aug - 4 Sep 2022 SingaporeRead more -
The Divine Comedy
Israfil Ridhwan 24 Jul - 15 Aug 2021 SingaporeRead more
Works
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Conversations with Mr. Guilt, 2025
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Epilogue, 2025
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Card Player, 2025
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DL Trade, 2025
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Glance, 2025
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Strangers Again, 2025
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The Daytime Moon, 2025
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A Lingering Stain, 2025
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Social Fatigue, 2025
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Wet Cigarette, 2025
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Amyl Nitrate No.5, 2025
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Prologue, 2025
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Androstadienone, 2025
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Heat, 2025
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I'll Lick My Own Ear This Time, 2024
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Can't Keep Strumming the Same Old Blues, 2024
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Glaring Eyes, 2025
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Last Touch, 2025
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Maghrib, 2025
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The Lullaby of Rain, 2025
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I Am the Last to Carry my Father's Name, 2025
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Stirring in His Loins, 2025
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Dreaming Away Old Life, 2024
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I Never Wanted Red to Be Anger, 2024
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A Series of Unfortunate Events, 2024
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Opening, 2023
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Evening Dew, 2023
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Carbon Copy, 2023
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Tell Them That You Love Them, 2023
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And for You I Keep My Legs Apart, 2023
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In the Voice of Asmahan, 2023
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Real Life, 2023
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I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said, 2023
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If Touch Is What I Desire, Cut It Off, 2023
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Conditioned to Think That the Grass is Softer, 2023
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I Was Always Quick to Admit Defeat, 2023
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This Time I'll Leave First, 2023
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The Men I Know, 2023
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Like a Sunday, 2023
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Silent Lover, 2022
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Opulent Ways , 2022
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The other woman, 2022
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No Rest for the Wicked, 2022
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One Comes After the Other, 2022
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Attraction in Its Truest Form, 2022
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The Masculine Man, 2021
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It’s buzzcut season anyway, 2021
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Easy Rider (Diptych) , 2021
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Into The Grass Fields, 2021
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Redemption Through Chaos, 2021
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The Alternate Sin/Scene, 2021
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Malay Renaissance, 2021
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On & On, 2021
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The Sun Also Rises For Those Who Fail The Call, 2021
Press
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How Private Art Collectors In Singapore Are Helping To Shape Our Artistic Future
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, a+ Singapore, July 15, 2025 -
AWDB SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Israfil Ridhwan
Art World Database , April 4, 2025 -
Art Paris 2025 : la foire au for contemporain
Téa Antonietti, Harper;s Bazaar France, April 3, 2025 -
Comment la foire Art Paris met la scène émergente à l’honneur
Maïlys Celeux-Lanval, BeauxArts, March 28, 2025 -
Art Paris 2025 returns to Grand Palais with 170 exhibitors and 26 solo shows
Artdaily, March 14, 2025 -
Alif Sianipar & Israfil Ridhwan On Their Ideal Partners & Dating Profiles
A cut above the rest.Megan La Faber, ELLE Singapore, February 25, 2025 -
Here On Our Fertile Grounds: 12 Gen Zs Contemplate Home and Creativity In Singapore
Charmaine Tan, Men's Folio, August 30, 2024 -
形塑「台北當代」新力量：精選近三年國際新面孔
New Forces Shaping “Taipei Dangdai”: Some New International Faces in the Last Three YearsArtouch, May 11, 2024 -
From London to Tokyo: These Singaporean Artists Are Making a Splash on the Global Stage
After dominating the local art scene, these five trailblazers have gone on to flourish across international waters.Valecia Lee, ELLE Singapore, May 8, 2024 -
Exploring artistry: The best art galleries in Singapore
Tanisha Khanna, Asia One, December 31, 2023 -
Singapore artists Israfil Ridhwan, Samuel Xun and Andre Wee on making work with meaning
Jeffrey Yan, The Straits Times, December 29, 2023 -
Singapore Art Gallery Weekend 2023
ArtAsiaPacific, September 13, 2023 -
Knockout shows at Singapore Art Gallery Weekend
Helmi Yusof, The Business Times, September 7, 2023 -
Spaces In-Between
Mingli Seet, Timeout Singapore, September 5, 2023 -
Arts Picks: Walking musical tour of Katong, exhibitions by Kumari Nahappan, Israfil Ridhwan
Shawn Hoo, The Straits Times, August 31, 2023 -
Things To Do In Singapore: A Y2K Film Festival, A Korean Marketplace & More
Keng Yang Shuen, Female, August 31, 2023 -
The Best Things To Do In Singapore This Week: 28th August 2023 to 3rd September 2023
City Nomads, August 27, 2023 -
Growing global demand for Singaporean artists' works, but more needs to be done to draw youngsters into sector
Cherie Lok & Fabian Koh, Channel News Asia, July 26, 2023 -
14 July 2023 — Cuturi Gallery to open its Summer Group Show
Stephanie Yeap, Plural Art Mag, July 14, 2023 -
Things To Do In Singapore: A Group Show For Emerging Artists, The Return Of Enclave Bar & More
Keng Yang Shuen & Nicholas See, Female Singapore, July 13, 2023 -
Lima pelukis muda giat ukir nama di persada seni
Puad Ibrahim, Berita Harian, March 13, 2023 -
Israfil Ridhwan is Part of The New Generation of Talented Artists Coming Out of Singapore
Rubén P, Overstandard, January 21, 2023 -
Big business for some galleries, consolation for others at Art SG
Arthur Sim, The Straits Times, January 16, 2023 -
Cuturi Gallery's Exhibition Celebrates Singaporean Artists Who Tanked Through Covid
Jolene Teo, Alien Space Crab, August 22, 2022 -
Arts Picks: 29 Singapore artists in 3 group exhibitions show new work
Arthur SIm, The Straits Times, August 19, 2022 -
In Singapore, Five Young Artists Expanding The Limits Of Masculinity
Keng Yang Shuen, Female Singapore , June 7, 2022 -
Young Artists To Place Your Bets On
Arthur Sim, The Straits Times, February 20, 2022 -
Unruly Compositions Of The Nanyang Style From The Eyes Of Three Young Artists
Manfred Lu, Men's Folio Singapore, December 23, 2021 -
11 up-and-coming artists in Singapore that you should know
Tanya Singh and Dewi Nurjuwita, Time Out Singapore, June 11, 2021
Bibliography
Artist statement
One quote I’ve always stuck with is, “life imitates art”. Being someone who’s a little too in-touch with his emotions can be very draining. I’ve been blessed with the life I have- to live around people who express their thoughts and emotions to me. I see violence, lust, love, joy and so many more. Being inspired by this, I’ve made it my genre of art. When I paint something, it’s a parallel reflection of an emotion, valid or not. I’d like to think that I’m a mediator of some sort. My art style has been described as poster-like or figurative. I think it’s nice knowing that it is the way it is, as if life is a movie and my work is the summary.