Basic Graphic Design (5 Artist reference)

1.Ahmad Zakii Anwar 

Ahmad Zakii Anwar is perhaps one of the most illustrious and established fine artist in Malaysia. His name has been synonymous linked with art where the mention of the name Zakii will invoke one of the most popular artworks in the country. Born in 1955, Zakii is known to have produced one of the most engaging, realistic and desired fine art not only in Malaysia but throughout the region as well as in other continents. Zakii is one of the earliest fine artist where he is widely regarded as one of the first generation artists when he first came out through the School of Art and Design from MARA Institute of Technology Malaysia. He started off as a graphic designer and was involved in the advertising industry where he had produced some of the most engaging advertising creatives during his time. From there, he continued to establish his name by converting to fine art where his techniques have been exemplary and world class.


Zakii’s work is easily recognizable as he does so well in using the media like charcoal and oil to exude his still life into realistic portraits and paintings. His work has been ‘loud’ and large and is widely sought after by collectors, galleries and art spaces around the region.

"Kota Sepi" by Ahmad Zakii Anwar
If you are into realism art, you will recognize Ahmad Zakii Anwar was one of Malaysia’s greatest realist artists. Zakii is back to "Valentine Willie Fine Art" with his latest charcoal series entitled Kota Sepi. Kota Sepi is a continuous version of his previous exhibition Kota Sunyi; offering a dark cast of characters from Zakii’s own cinema of the everyday.

2. Syed Thajudeen

Syed Thajudeen Shaik Abu Talib was born in 1943 in Alagan Kulan, a village not too for from the temple city of Madurai, South India. His Malaysian-bron parents lived during the Secong World War. He joined his family in Penang when he was eleven years old but later went back to India to pursue a course in art in Government College of Arts and Crafts, Madras during years 1968 until year 1974.

Without doubt, Syed's unique style and aesthetic sense draw inspiration from his personal Indian background and Indian traditional painting styles fused with Malay cultural elements. Syed's studies at Madras College of Arts and Crafts ALso informed and influenced his sense of aesthetic.

"Puteri Gunung Ledang and Hang Tuah" by Syed Thajudeen
(Oil on Canvas)

The eternal love between the warrior Hang Tuah and Puteri Gunung Ledang, an old Malaccan tale.









3.Muid Latif

Muid Latif (born February 24, 1979 in George Town, Penang) is a Malaysian-baesd web designer, graphic designer and digital artist who actively promotes the arts of the South East Asia from Batik and other elements in his digital artwok. Muid is one of the offical Behance Ambassador representing Malaysia and the author of "Mekarnya Cinta Kata-kata & Puisi" e-book, a part of initiative to help the Creative Commons movement in fostering Free content awareness & Going green campaign.

"Flora Suria Sana" by Muid Latif

4. Yusof Ghani

Yusof Ghani was born in Johor, Malaysia in 1950. He received his art education in the USA after being awarded the Dr Burt Armada Scholarship from the George Mason University in 1980.He returned to Malaysia armed with both a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and a Masters of Fine Art in 1984.


Yusof Ghani is one of Malaysia’s leading Abstract Expressionists.His works have been exhibited widely, in Malaysia and all around the world including U.K., U.S.A., Singapore, Iraq, U.A.E., Spain, Japan,and Thailand.His works also hang in prestigious collections around the world including in the collections of Petronas Malaysia, Tokyo Gas, Japan, PNB Malaysia, and Bank Negara Malaysia, to name a few.Yusof Ghani’s works have also been published into several books, spanning his 23 year career.

Topeng/Mask Series: "Panji-panji" (1992) by Yusof Ghani
(mixed media on the canvas.)

Topeng/Mask Series: "People of the Rain Forest II" (1996) by Yusof Ghani
(mixed media on the canvas.)

Raja Lawak II (1993) by Yusof Ghani
(Mixed media on canvas)

Hulubalang (1992) - Mixed media on canvas

Hudog Dance (1993)

5. Leon Lim

Born in Kedah, Malaysia, being profoundly and proudly deaf since birth allowed Lim to develop a keen sense of observation. As an alienated child, Lim discovered colorful prints covered on music cassettes, which brought him into the art world as well as loved collecting everyday objects that expanded upon his imagination and expression of his own. Decided to move to Penang, he attended high school, the Federation School for the Deaf (presently known as SMK Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan) where teaches the subjects in sign language, his first language before English or Malay langauge. Lim lived alone far away from his family home and developing a passionate sense of independence at the tender age of 14. Living alone at an early age afforded Lim the deep desire to build his own world free of the barriers that come with the need to hear sound or music. During his early years, Lim was artistically and socially frustrated by the fact that there was virtually no exposure on art education and contemporary art in Malaysia. His decision to move to New York with three International academic scholarships became a turing point in his art career. Lim, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree holder from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, settled in New York City, which had been Lim's childhood dream before coming to USA, envisioning a career as an artist.

"Miraculous Hands I-IV" by Leon Lim
(Acrylic on canvanses with collaged old paper)

Inspired by the first-time experience of living in the United States


"I choose the [Miraculous Hands] because this artwork was describe the first-time experience of living in another places. I have stayed in many place before this include National service also come to this college, so I can understand the meaning in these artwork."