Fadilah Karim

b. 1987, Malaysia

Born in Batu Pahat, Fadilah Karim first fell in love with art through childhood colouring contests. Though she holds a Masters in Fine Art & Technology from UiTM Malaysia, it wasn’t until a short mentorship under Malaysian figurative painter, Amron Omar, that she began to view art as an attainable career path.

As one of Malaysia’s most prolific young artists, she is known for her body of large-scale figurative works, which bear a certain muted realism. Fadilah always refers to her works as autobiographical – melancholic scenes of a girl, her face partially hidden from the viewer, or characters falling into the unknown. Both somber and somewhat nostalgic in nature, Fadilah’s work invites audiences into her world – one that is quiet, pensive, and introspective.

Fadilah has exhibited internationally in Singapore, Germany, Taiwan, and Korea. Her 2016 solo exhibition, “Secret Lies”,  at TAKSU Kuala Lumpur showcased her signature aesthetic – the disciplined use of colour, intimate portraiture, distinct elements of shadow and light, and a sense of drama and mystery.