Nizar Kamal Ariffin

Born on September 9, 1964, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Nizar began his foray into the arts by joining the State of Art Society, SENIKA, in Kuantan, Pahang, in 1984. While working with the Ministry of Culture and Youth, he discovered his passion for painting and subsequently became their Resident Artist at Taman Seni Budaya, Pahang. His formal education in Fine Arts and Graphics began at the University Sains of Malaysia in 1986. After graduating, he turned his passion into his profession. In 1993, Nizar relocated to Kuala Lumpur where he painted at the APS (Angkatan Pelukis SeMalaysia) house in Central Market while also freelancing in graphics and print works. By 1998, he fully committed to painting, becoming part of the Conlay Artist Colony at Craft Complex Malaysia.

His artistry reflects a restless quest for truth and the deeper meaning of life, a journey he embodies through his passionate and vigorous creation of art. His paintings are the result of swift yet precise strokes, an artistic dance resembling the movements of a martial arts master. As a perfectionist, Nizar creates high-finished surfaces that convey a keen sensitivity and responsiveness towards life.

The first series of his ‘Topeng’ or mask artwork, introduced in 1998, served as a preliminary expression of his evolving self. Nizar’s unyielding dedication to his craft has guided his artistic journey, demonstrating the profound relationship between his soul-searching endeavors and the vigor of his art.