Artist Profile
(Updated 08032023)
Wan Jamila Wan Shaiful Bahri a.k.a. ARTJAMILA (b. 2002, Selangor, Malaysia)
Wan Jamila, known professionally as artjamila, is an award-winning autistic savant artist who has made an impact to the world, broken new grounds and inspire others through her art.
In 2020, ViaTalenta Foundation in Switzerland appointed her as an Impact Artist for climate change, and Agence France Press in Paris included her in the World Generation Z for being “Creative and Committed Against the Virus”. At the young age of 18, her success was documented in the encyclopedia Britishpedia 2020 and in 2021 she was chosen as Gen.T Honouree “Asian Leader of Tomorrow” by Tatler Asia. In 2023 she received a prestigious “Asia Young Icon Award (Artist)”, Top 10 Asia Award.
In her early childhood, she doodled her emotions and her experiences. Today, she paints subjects relating to the current issues. She has provided a visual manuscript of historical events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. Her creation of art is so pure, and she has developed a distinctive personal style. As such, she was included in the recently published Museum Art Book titled “Art from Leonardo da Vinci to today” published by MAMAG Modern Art Museum Europe in 2023.
She is an icon to the autism community, our country, and the world.
Artist’s CV
Wan Jamila a.k.a. ARTJAMILA_ b, 2002; Selangor
Education
2016
Self-taught Artist, Home-school program
2015
UPSR, Sri Acmar Primary School, Selangor, Malaysia.
Award & Achievement
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Award / Achievement
1.0 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
1.1
2023: “Asia Young Icon Award (Artist)”, Top 10 Asia Award by Top 10 Publications.
1.2
2023: Museum Art Book “Art from Leonardo da Vinci to today”. Artjamila’s artworks was published in the Museum Art Book “Art from Leonardo da Vinci to today” published by MAMAG Modern Art Museum, Austria, Europe in 2023. It is an honour to have her artwork published alongside with great artists Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, Sandro Botticelli, Raffael, Tizian, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and other amazing artists.
1.3
2023: Featured Artist (Asian Level) in the International Symposium on art, culture, language, and literature on Feb 9, 2023, ‘Rentasia’ at the Malaysian Islamic Art Museum, KL, hosted by College of Creative Arts (CCA) UiTM, a collaboration with other universities in Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and Thailand universities.
1.4
2023: Tatler Asia. Featured Artist in an article published on 5th January 2023 by Tatler Asia (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd. under section “GEN.T. LEADERSHIP” titled “Savant Artist Wan Jamila is Breaking Barriers with her art”.
1.5
2022: Exhibition in Europe. ARTJAMILA is represented by a prestigious mainstream gallery in Europe, and her works displayed at four charming locations; Vienna Austria, Munich Germany, Castle Heidenreichstein Austria, Modern Art Masters in Complex du Louvre International Art Fair at Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France.
1.6
2021: Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow, Young Leaders across the region of Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia), by Tatler Asia.
1.7
2020: Successful People in Malaysia, encyclopedia Britishpedia, published by British Publishing House, Britain.
1.8
2020: Selected for World Peace Project 2020 USA (“World Peace Series 1”), in conjunction with World Peace Day celebration on 21st September 2020.
1.9
2020: Selected for World Peace Project 2020 USA (“Our Heroes Series 2”), in conjunction with World Peace Day celebration on 21st September 2020.
1.10
2020: Awarded as Young Malaysian Visual Artist in the World Generation Z together with other creative individuals around the world for being “Creative and committed against the virus” published by Agence France Press (AFP).
1.11
2020: Shortlisted in a global painting competition “Our Heroes Series 3” under the theme “United Against Corona” organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
1.12
2020: 1st PLACE AWARD in Asian frontliner theme contest, organized by Artdialogo Asia.
1.13
2020: CHOICE AWARD (“Heal the Earth”) in an international Earthly Art Contest under the theme “CLIMATE ACTION”, organized by Think City, Kuala Lumpur.
1.14
2019: Appointed as IMPACT ARTIST 2020-2022 by Viatalenta Foundation in Switzerland for sea pollution awareness.
2.0 NATIONAL AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
2.1
2022: Her first grand solo exhibition titled “Voyage of Moments” was organised by the Shah Alam Gallery in collaboration with Creative Media Hub UiTM Shah Alam from 29th March – 15th April 2022.
2.2
2022: ICON ANIS Award by the State Government of Selangor, Malaysia.
2.3
2022: Second Place “Beautiful Malaysia” competition, organised by Rotary Club, Malaysia.
2.4
2021: 1st place award for Malaysia’s 64th Independence Day Visual Arts Competition 2021 which was organised by Pentas under the theme of being Malaysian and embracing our culture.
2.5
2021: 1st prize award “This is Pahang“, under category PWD, organised by UCYP & MCR.
2.6
2021: 2nd place “Rainbow in my heart” competition by Rotary Club of Bandar Utama.
2.7
2020: PTGSA2020 “Incentive Award” from Shah Alam Gallery in Shah Alam, Selangor.
2.8
2020: Consolation prize for “Our Heroes Series 1 video” Portal GoGallery, by National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur (NAG,KL)
2.9
2019: The National Autism Champion, World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April 2019.
2.10
2019: Selected work for Malaysia’s Independence Day celebration “Unity in Diversity, Dance Series 1” for Genius Kurnia mural painting, organized by Angkasa Malaysia.
2.11
2019: Selected work for the country’s Independence Day celebration “Unity in Diversity, Skyline Series 3” for Putrajaya Sculpture at Putra Square, organized by Putrajaya Corporation.
2.12
2019: President’s Special Recognition Award “Putrajaya Sculpture” awarded by MIP MyPlace_Award 2019, Excellent in Placemaking.
2.13
2018: Featured artist for “Danajamin Mightyrun 2018”, by Danajamin Nasional Bhd.
2.14
2018: 3rd place at the “National Abilympics Live Painting Competition”, organized by Malaysian Council Rehabilitation (MCR)
2.15
2017: Weekly winner “National Live Painting Competition “NEGARAKU” organized by the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.
3.0 Artjamila have made an impact to various industries:
3.1 ART INDUSTRIES: The messages in Jamila’s artwork tells the story of the past as well as current events to provide knowledge, examples, and awareness of current
situations in the form of emotional touch.
3.2 SUSTAINABILITY INDUSTRY:
(a) IMPACT ARTIST for sea pollution and sustainability awareness.
(b) WORLD GENERATION Z: Creative and committed against the virus”.
3.3 SOCIAL ENTREPREURSHIP: Generate its own income.
3.4 EDUCATION: Contribution to the Ministry of Education for educational books:
(a) 2021 “Bahasa Melayu” Form 5 Textbook, published by Institute of Language and Literature (“Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka”) for the new standard of curriculum under
Ministry of Education Malaysia.
(b) Featured artist for final thesis project fashion design, Faculty of Art & Design, UiTM Shah Alam.
3.5 MEDIA COMMUNICATION: Featured Artist for Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) daily Facebook live Press Conference by Ybhg. Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Director-General of Health Malaysia, reporting on COVID-19.
3.6 MUSIC: Musical art by Yozimusic titled “The Invisible Cape”.
3.7 FASHION: Collaboration with fashion design thesis which transforms the characteristics of Artjamila’s art into fashion.
3.8 PHILANTHROPY AND CHARITY INDUSTRY:
(a) SHARING SESSION WITH AUTISM COMMUNITY: Seminars/conferences.
(b) SHARING SESSION WITH THE ART INDUSTRY:
(i) Seminars / conferences under the title “Artjamila’s Art Journey”
(ii) Live painting sessions
(c ) MONETARY GIFT: Donation to the autism and underprivileged community.
(d) COLLABORATION: Collaboration with organisations for charity exhibitions.
(i) Bank Negara Museum & Art Gallery (Art Bazaar in 2017)
(ii) Danajamin Mighty Run2018: successfully raised RM 110,000.00 for NASOM.
(iii) Security Commissions (SC Hearts art exhibitions in 2018)
(iv) Alpro Pharmacy.
(v) Lawabana (Charity auction in 2019), titled “Weaving our dreams together”. All proceeds was donated to the under-privileged community.
(vi) Angkasa (Artjamila painted a 6ft x 20 ft mural for Genius Kurnia in Kuala Lumpur as a tribute to Malaysia’s 62nd Independence Day in 2019)
(vii) Intermark Mall. Solo exhibition under the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) theme “Celebrating Unique Talents” . Portion of our proceeds donated
to NASOM, a non-profit non-governmental welfare organization, that serves the community with special needs.
(e) DIRECT MONETARY DONATION:
(i) The Nasional Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM).
(ii) Construction of covered walkway at PPKI Workshop, SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Painting Stories
WORLD PEACE
Her “World Peace Series 2” represents her view of world peace where people of different kinds can dance together in a peaceful world accepting the differences of others and embracing happiness together. This painting was selected as a header for World Peace Project 2020_Series I, curated by Keri Bowers from USA in conjunction with WORLD PEACE DAY on 21st September 2020.
VOYAGE OF FREEDOM
Her “Voyage of freedom” documents the history of Malaysia from the British colonization in the 1786 towards gaining independence and the new millennium 2020. This painting was published in the local newspaper in conjunction with 63rd Malaysia’s independence celebration in 2020. This painting was featured in ArtMalaysia Magazine, Issue 1 on the frontpage with good coverage on her painting stories.
OUR HEROES SERIES
In June 2020, her frontliner-themed paintings have brought her to be in the World Generation Z newspaper article for being “Creative and committed against the virus” as a young Malaysian visual artist together with other creative individuals around the world that received worldwide media coverage in 6 continents of the world.
OUR HEROES Series 1
Her “Our Heroes Series 1” series documents the coronavirus pandemic and has won an Asian award and was used by Ministry of Health Malaysia in their daily social media reportings; and her “Our Heroes Series 2” painting was selected for World Peace Project 2020_Series III, USA;
OUR HEROES Series 2
On 13th September 2020, “Our Heroes Series 2” selected for World Peace Project 2020, USA, curated by Keri Bowers from USA in conjunction with WORLD PEACE DAY on 21st September 2020.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY Skyline Series 3
Her “Unity in Diversity” series documents the Malaysian Independence Day celebrations and has been awarded several accolades. Her “Unity in Diversity Skyline Series 3” adorned the Putrajaya Sculpture at Putra Square for the country’s Independence Day celebration 2019.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY Series 3
This sculpture received numerous media coverage worldwide. This sculpture won the “President’s Special Recognition award” under “MIP MyPLACE AWARD 2019: Excellence in Placemaking”.
FISH MOSAIC SERIES
Her “Fish Mosaic” series documents the sea pollution campaign and was appointed as “Impact Artist 2020-2022” by ViaTalenta Foundation, Switzerland and her paintings are digitally showcased at a world platform for sea pollution awareness. She is a climate and environmental activist through visual art for awareness.
HEAL THE EARTH
Her “Heal the Earth” series document the climate action campaign and have won “Choice Award” at an international competition.
TIGER SERIES
Her “Tiger” series documents the campaign against wildlife crime to avoid the critical extinction of tigers in the forest and was featured in The Edge Property Magazine Live in the main page. It was published in January 2020 titled “Roaring into 2020”.