Israfil Ridhwan Singaporean, b. 1999

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 in 2020 with a Diploma in Fine Arts. Since then, he has participated in group exhibitions including Taipei Dangdai (2024), Art SG (2023–2024), Summer Group Show (2023–2024), Little Red Dot – Singapore and London Edition (2022), and Fresh Take (2021).

 

Israfil held his first solo exhibition, The Divine Comedy, in 2021, followed by Spaces In-Between in 2023 and Some Things Last a Long Time in 2025 at Cuturi Gallery. He also presented a solo presentation at Art Paris in 2025.