Ahmad Zakii Anwar

AHMAD ZAKII ANWAR

Ahmad Zakii Anwar (b. 1955, Malaysia) - better known as Zakii - has emerged as one of the most exciting, engaging and eloquent 'urban realist' artists in the region.

A graduate of the School of Art and Design, MARA Institute of Technology Malaysia, the artist began his career as a graphic artist, producing some of the leading advertising graphics of his time before turning to fine art practice.
Zakii came to attention for his virtuosity and command of a spectrum of media from charcoals to oils, building a reputation for stunning photo-realist still-life paintings and expressive portraits. Later, a more contemporary edge surfaced in his works as Zakii introduced urban subjects and settings into his canvases. He is lauded for capturing not just city motifs and urban features but also a distinctive psychological dimension and cinematic quality in these scenarios. Zakii's preoccupation with the spiritual or metaphysical aspects of urban life, as seen through his use of icons, symbols and allegories (including metaphors of theatre, performance and masks) have also marked his practice.
The artist's studio and viewing gallery is in Johor Bahru, Malaysia where he resides with his wife and children.