Founder

Founder of Kamal Arts Limited

A brief biography of Kamal Dollah

Artist | Educator | Cultural Advocate | Caricaturist

Kamal Dollah (b. 1967) is a distinguished Singaporean artist, educator, and cultural advocate renowned for his expertise in batik painting and caricature art. His work bridges traditional Southeast Asian art forms with contemporary expressions, emphasizing community engagement and cultural identity.

Artistic Journey & Education

Kamal began his formal art education at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), earning a diploma in graphic design in 1993. His passion for heritage and innovation led him to pursue a Master of Arts in Contemporary Practice from the University of Huddersfield (UK) in 2007. His thesis, Innovating Tradition – Batik Painting in Contemporary Art Practice, underscores his commitment to revitalizing traditional crafts in modern contexts.

A Champion of Batik Art

In 2008, Kamal established Kamal’s Artshop, a painting studio aimed at training and providing employment to artists in the art-education and entertainment industry. Recognizing the need for broader community outreach, he founded Kamal Arts Ltd, a non-profit arts company, in 2014. The studio and an art gallery, located at Wisma Geylang Serai, offers classes, workshops, and public programs, many supported by the National Arts Council.

In 2009, he introduced Community Batik – a collaborative large-scale art activity designed to engage people of all ages and backgrounds. One of his most notable projects involved producing a 550-meter long batik painting to celebrate Singapore’s 55th National Day in 2020, setting a Singapore Book of Records milestone.

Caricature & Cartoon.SG

Beyond traditional art, Kamal is also a master caricaturist. In 2007, Kamal became the first Southeast Asian artist to be accepted into the International Society of Caricature Artists, marking a significant recognition of his impact in the global caricature community.

He founded Cartoon.SG in 2008, a studio that has delivered professional caricature services at numerous events and venues, including Universal Studios Singapore.

Recognition & Legacy

Kamal’s multifaceted contributions to the arts have earned him several honors, including:

Artisan of the Year (2019)– awarded by the Rotary Club of Singapore  

Multiple Singapore Book of Records achievements for community batik works  

Featured speaker at international art education forums (e.g., UNESCO’s InSEA)  

Since January 2022, his annual solo exhibition series Lotsa Mix at Kamal Arts Gallery highlighted his ability to fuse traditional batik motifs with contemporary narratives, capturing the diverse essence of Singapore’s cultural identity.

Affiliation/Membership
The International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA) a non-governmental organization and official partner of UNESCO – Member since 2018
International Society of Caricature Artists (ISCA) – Member since 2007
Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (An association for Malay Artists in Singapore) – President 2002-2006, 2014-2018

Teaching Experience
National Institute of Education, NTU. Batik painting elective, 2014 – 2019
UniSIM. Associate faculty and exam writer for SST Multimedia, 2008 – 2014
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Part-time lecturer, 1994 – 2008

Teaching Training
Essentials of Teaching and Learning; National Institute of Education (NTU), 2015
Working and Facilitating the Learning of Children with Special Needs in Arts; Social Services Institute, 2016
Advance Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA); Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications, 2018
Teaching The Arts in an Early Childhood Environment; SEED Institute, 2019

Kamal Dollah’s Art Portfolio