Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj

Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj (b. 1987, Muar, Johor) is a prominent Malaysian artist renowned for his thought-provoking exploration of society and politics. A Fine Art graduate from UiTM Shah Alam (2010), Najib’s practice combines keen observation with refined technical skill. He is a founding member of the RUMPUN artist collective and the creator of Ruang Bamadhaj, an artist-run space fostering creativity.

Najib’s works, which often focus on themes such as women, animals, flowers, and natural scenery, challenge perspectives and inspire action. His solo exhibitions, including Great Migration (2012), Survival (2015), Pride and Prejudice (2020), and The New Beginning (2023), illustrate his artistic evolution. Internationally, his art has been showcased in Singapore, Jakarta, Taiwan, Korea, and Europe.

Recognized with accolades such as the Young Guns Award (2013) and multiple art competition wins, Najib was named one of Malaysia’s Prestige 40 Under 40 in 2023. Through innovative narratives and techniques, he continues to push boundaries, using art as a platform for meaningful dialogue on societal issues.

Collected by Institutions: Bank Negara, CIMB, Maybank, Maxis, ILHAM Gallery, OCBC Bank Singapore

Private Collections: Dato Noor Azman Nordin, Galeri Z (Zain Azahari), YB Tengku Zafrul, Dato Wan Kamarulzaman, Dr. Steve Wong, Toh Puan Hidayah, Dato Lim Chee Wee, Dato Lynda Nasrun

EDUCATION

2010

Bachelor (Hons.) Fine Art, Majoring in Painting, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor

2008

Diploma in Fine Art, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka

SOLO EXHIBITION

2023

New Norm, G13 Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

2020

Pride and Prejudice, Taksu Gallery, KL, Malaysia

2015

Survival, Taksu, Singapore

2012

Great Migration, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur

INTERNATIONAL SHOW/ARTFAIRS

2024

CIMB Artober Art & Soul 2024 with G13 Gallery, MITEC, Malaysia
Art Busan 2024 with G13 Gallery, BEXCO Busan, Korea
CIMB Hotel Art Fair with G13 Gallery, Four Points by Sheraton, Malaysia
Art Formosa with G13 Gallery, Eslite Hotel, Taiwan
Hotel Art Fair Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand

2023

Art Formosa 2023 with G13 Gallery, Eslite Hotel, Taiwan
Art Hsinchu 2023 with G13 Gallery, Sheraton Hsinchu Hotel, Taiwan
Mango Art Festival Bangkok with G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Singapore Art Week with TAKSU Gallery, Singapore

2022

CIMB ARTOBER - Hotel Art Fair 2022, TAKSU Gallery, Element Hotel, KL
Psychedelic 2, CIMB ARTOBER, Hotel Art Fair 2022, Core Design Gallery x Dua Konsultasi, Element Hotel, KL
Locals Only! CIMB Artober Art & Soul Art Fair, Menara Ken, TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Human Desire, Taksu, Singapore
Singapore Art Week (SAW), Taksu, Singapore

2021

MAEF, Taksu Gallery, World Trade Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
CIMB ARTOBER - Hotel Art Fair 2021, G13 Gallery & Taksu Gallery, Element Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

2020

Embodiment, Taksu, Singapore
Art Moments Jakarta, Segaris Art Center, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur

2019

Art Expo Malaysia 2019 with Taksu Gallery, Malaysia
This Is DOPE! Taksu, Singapore

2018

Art Collection Exhibition, Terrada Art Complex, Tokyo
Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2018 with Taksu Gallery, Malaysia
START Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London
Art Stage Singapore with Taksu, Singapore

2017

Art Kaohsiung 2017 with G13 Gallery, Taiwan
Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2017 with Taksu Gallery, Malaysia
Bi Lateral Bonds, Taksu, Singapore
Urban Art Fair, Aliwal Arts Centre, Le Carreau Du Temple, Paris
Asia Contemporary Art Show (10th edition), Nadine Fine Art, Conrad, Hong Kong
Singapore Contemporary, Segaris Art Center, Suntec, Singapore
Nasi Campur International, Taksu, Singapore
Art Stage, Taksu, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

2016

Art Kaohsiung with G13 Gallery, Art Kaohsiung 2015, Taiwan
Rising Length of Light, REDBASE Contemporary Art, Artotel, Thamrin, Jakarta
Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2016 with Taksu Gallery, Malaysia
Art Gwangju, Taksu & Art Angel, Gwangju, South Korea
Bi Lateral Bonds, Taksu, Singapore
Art Stage, Taksu, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

2015

Art Kaohsiung with G13 Gallery, Art Kaohsiung 2015, Taiwan
9th Art Expo Malaysia 2015, Taksu, Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre, KL
Art Gwangju 15, Galeri Chandan, Gwangju, South Korea
Nasi Campur, Taksu, Bali, Indonesia
The Collective Young: From South East Asia, Mizuma Gallery, Gillman Barracks, Singapore
Nasi Campur, Taksu, Singapore

2014

Note To Self, Taksu, Singapore
Young Guns, Chan Hampe Gallery, Singapore
8th Art Expo Malaysia 2014, Taksu, Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre, KL, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nasi Campur, Taksu, Singapore

2013

7th Art Expo Malaysia 2013, G13 Gallery, Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre, KL, Malaysia
Translocality (3 Man Show), OCBC Centre, Singapore

2012

Peninsula & Island, Taksu, Singapore
Nasi Campur, Taksu, Singapore

SELECTED EXHIBITION

2025

Urban Narratives @ Yap Ah Shak House, G13 Gallery, Malaysia

2024

Today As It Was Then, Artas Galeri, Malaysia
New Malaysian Paintings, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Solidarity For Palestine, Segaris Art Center, Malaysia
Sesat di Kuala Lumpur, Galeri Puteh, Malaysia

2023

Eclectic, Segaris Art Center, Malaysia
G13 @ 13, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Faith, Segaris Art Center, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur
The Artist’s Studio, Group Exhibition, G13 Gallery, Malaysia

2022

TURUN TANAH, Galeri Puteh, KL Eco City Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Petals of Nationalism, Artas Gallery, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Alchemy, SARENG, Menara Chan, Kuala Lumpur
Synthesis, Galeri Prima, Balai Berita, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Art-Tastik: The After Noughties – Dua Konsultasi, Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Kesinambungan, 2nd Anniversary Show, Artas Gallery, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SHAFIQ X NAJIB: The Beginning of New Chapter, G13 Gallery, Malaysia

2021

MAEF – Taksu Gallery, World Trade Center, Kuala Lumpur
Segaris Art Center 10th Anniversary Show, WHITEBOX, MAP PUBLIKA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jalur Gemilang, Artas Gallery, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
CZ 12.21, Artas Gallery, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2020

SEDEKAD, ‘G13: 10th Years Anniversary Exhibition, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Splendid Isolation, Nadine Fine Art, KL, Malaysia
Mending Fence: A Tales from an Isolation, G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Twenty 20, Segaris Art Center, Malaysia
Possibilia, Russel, Rumah Seni Selangor, Malaysia
FURiends: Portrayals of Cats and Dogs, G13 Gallery, Malaysia.

2019

Mihrab, Segaris Art Center, Publika, KL, Malaysia
BEDA, Alumni of Art & Design UiTM and Institut Seni Indonesia, ISI JOGJA, Segaris Art Center, Malaysia
Painting and Empathy, Nadine Fine Art, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
TAKSU 30th Anniversary Exhibition, (KLAF 2019), APW Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
XIX-Nineteen, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2018

PUBLIKA ART SHOW, White Box, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
‘ARANG’ Texture of Johor, Galeri Seni Johor, Johor, Malaysia
Art Aids, White Box, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TRANSIT 3X3, HOM Art Trans, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The 8 Hope, Lux Gallery, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstraction Towards Realism, Nadine Fine Art, Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bintang 5 Volume #3, Segaris Art Center, White Box, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
From The Studio II, Trans 56, Art Row@ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2017

Love and Betrayal with Nadine South ast Asia, Malaysia
Reflections, Gallery Weekend, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ArtAid 2017, White box, Publika, Malaysia
Transit A1, HOM Art Trans, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sensation, Segaris Art Center, White Box, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bi Lateral Bonds, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Temple & Sacred Place, Nadine Fine Art, Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Iskarnival, IP Kreatif, Mall of Medini, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Belantara, Segaris Art Center, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Amal Insani, Balai Seni Visual Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rice lands with Nadine Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Malaysia
Mimpi jadi lanskap with Taksu Gallery, Malaysia, Malaysia
Belantara, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2016

Iskarnival Naratif, White Box, Map Iskandar Puteri, Mall of Madini, Johor, Malaysia
Art Aids, White Box, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Merdeka Show, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bi Lateral Bonds, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Transit A2, HOM Art Trans,. Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cannot Be Boarded, Urbanscape House, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spice Select, Nadine Fine Art, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Young Malaysian Artists - New Object(ion) III, Galeri Petronas, Suria Klcc, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2015

5th Anniversary G13 Show, G13 Gallery, Kelana Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Shift, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ada Show!, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Extreme Portrait, Galeri Chandan, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2014

.U.A.R.A.S.A. 3, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Merdeka Show, Taksu , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia
99, Galeri Chandan, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2013

Young Guns, White Box, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nah! Bali, G13 Gallery, Kelana Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
S.U.A.R.A.S.A. 2, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
BUKA, Artelier Gallery, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Up!, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Destiny (Young Group Show), National Visual Arts Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spice, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Sekaki, Segaris Art Centre, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2012

Transit A4, House of Matahati (HOM), Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
LOADED, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
POPUP, House of Matahati (HOM), Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Songsang, Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Earth, Puncak Art Gallery, Bukit Jelutong, Selangor, Malaysia
Spice, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Locals Only, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2011

New, Young & Contemporary, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Endangered (2 Man Show), Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Visual Art Award (VAA) 2011, Starhill Gallery, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Open House 2011, Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kalam, Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Anniversary Show, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Signs, Symbols & Icons (3 Man Show), Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Pulp Friction, Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Private Affairs, Galeri Chandan, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
LiFest, MAP @ Publika, Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2010

Young Art, R A Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Belief, Three Sixty Art Development Studio, Desa Park City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Open Johor Art Competition, Johor Art Gallery, Johor, Malaysia
The Art of Recycling The Nando’s Way, NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Open Show, Shah Alam Gallery, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

2008

Pallete, The Gallery @ Starhill, Star Hill Gallery, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Diploma Show, Art Gallery, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Nando’s, Peri-fy Your Art, NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2007

Antara Merdeka, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Melaka TYT Action Portrait, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

Awards and Achievements

2013

Young Gun Awardee, White Box, Solaris @ Publika, Kuala Lumpur
Nah! Bali, G13 Bali Residency Programmed, Bali, Indonesia

2011

Finalist, Visual Art Award 2011, Starhill Gallery, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2010

Consolation Prize Winner, “Expressions of the Malayan Tiger” Art Competition, Maybank Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Vice Chancellor’s Awards, Degree (Hons.) in Fine Art, UiTM Shah Alam
1st Class, Degree (Hons.) in Fine Art, UiTM Shah Alam
1st Prize (Mix Media), Tanjong Heritage Art Competition, Kuala Lumpur
1st Prize Winner, Nando’s, Kicking-Off With Art & Soul, One Utama Shopping Centre, Damansara Utama
Dean’s List Awards, Degree (Hons.) in Fine Art, Semester 06, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor

2009

2nd Place, Open Johor Art Competition, Johor Art Gallery, Johor
Consolation Prize Winner (2D Hanging Display), The Art of Recycling The Nando’s Way, NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Dean’s List Awards, Degree (Hons.) in Fine Art, Semester 05 & 04, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor

2008

Dean’s List Awards, Degree (Hons.) in Fine Art, Semester 03, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor
Finalist (Open Category), MRCB Art Awards, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Best Graduate of UiTM Melaka, Pra Graduate Award, Equatorial Hotel, Melaka
Best Graduate of Faculty Art & Design UiTM Melaka, Pra Graduate Award, Equatorial Hotel, Melaka
Best Graduate of Programmed in Fine Art Department, Pra Graduate Award, Equatorial Hotel, Melaka
Dean’s List Awards, Diploma in Fine Art, Semester 06, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka

2007

2nd Prize, Art Competition, Melaka TYT Action Portrait, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka

Collection

Bank Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
CIMB Bank , Kuala Lumpur
Maybank, Kuala Lumpur
Maxis, Kuala Lumpur
OCBC Bank, Singapore
Galeri Tengku Nur Zahirah, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor
Galeri Seni, UiTM Lendu, Alor Gajah, Melaka
Galeri Seni Rakyat, Bandar Hilir, Melaka
Galeri Seni Johor, Yayasan Warisan Johor, Johor
Galeri Z, Kuala Lumpur
Pati Satu Studio, Puncak Alam, Selangor
TANJONG, Public Limited Company, Kuala Lumpur
TAPAK, Shah Alam, Selangor
Nando’s Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur
& Private Collectors