Ahmad Abu Bakar (b. 1963, Malaysia) graduated from LaSalle SIA College of the Arts with a Diploma in Fine Arts (Ceramics) in 1989 and received his Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture) from the University of Tasmania (Australia) in 1995. Upon his return to Singapore in 1996, Ahmad joined LaSalle College of the Arts as a full-time lecturer where he taught ceramics and 3D studies. He also pursued his Master of Fine Arts with RMIT / LaSalle–SIA during his teaching period in the college. Ahmad left LaSalle to focus on his art practice in 2008.

As an artist, Ahmad had participated in numerous group exhibitions in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand, The Philippines, Korea, Australia, France and Indonesia. In 2009, he was invited to be a part of Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale and the International Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition: Asian Ceramics Network and Selsius, held in the National Art Gallery, Malaysia in 2007. He was also invited to participate in the inaugural exhibition of the Singapore Art Museum’s new contemporary art wing, 8Q. Ahmad has also co-curated a showcase of Singaporean Malay artists entitled Tok Selampit Millenniumin 2004 at the Jendela art space (Esplanade, Theatres by the Bay) and in 2007, a group show featuring contemporary ceramicists from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam entitled Mapped in the same venue. He did his first solo exhibition ‘Ini Tanah Aku Punya’ in 2012 at Jendela Gallery Esplanade. In 2013 Ahmad had participated in the Singapore Biennale, where he collaborated with the inmates from Singapore Changi Prison. In the same year, he participated ‘Budi Daya’ at Malay Heritage Centre and in 2015 he participated in Secret Archipelago at Palais De Tokyo in Paris. In 2019 Ahmad did his 3rd solo exhibition at Chan+Hori Contemporary titled LANGIT,BUMI,TANAH akaTHE LAND OF THE HEAVENLY SKY curated by Khai Hori.In 2021 he did an installation at work at the Concourse Esplanade and donated 200 pcs of the works to Esplanade and Harun Ghani Foundation for charity.

Since 2009, Ahmad has dedicated his time to working with the Singapore Prison as an art instructor, where he mentors the inmates in an Arts programme (3D studies). In this programme, Ahmad has successfully inspired the inmates to express their creativity through art and instill
confidence and conviction through the processes of art making. Currently he is also an adjunct lecturer at NIE (NTU).

Education

• 2001, Master of Fine Arts, RMIT, LaSalle-SIA of the Arts, Singapore
• 1995, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture, University of Tasmania, Australia
• 1989, Diploma in Fine Arts in Ceramics, LaSalle College of Fine Arts, Singapore
  
  Selected Solo Exhibitions
  
• 2021 | Candy Garden, Concourse Esplanade, Singapore
• 2019 | Langit Bumi Tanah a.k.a The Land of the Heavenly Sky, Chan Hampe, Singapore
• 2015 | Tanah Ini KuPunya: Objek & Objektif, Chan Hampe, Singapore
• 2012 | Tanah Ini Ku Punya
• 2001 | Points & Geometry, LaSalle Gallery, Singapore
  
  Selected Group Exhibitions
  
• 2021 | Singapore Ceramics Now, Gillman Barracks, Singapore / Artists as Collector Gillman Barracks, Singapore
• 2019 | Singapore Utopia, Singapore
• 2017 | 80by80, Tunnel, The Esplanade, Singapore
• 2016 | Tanah Air, The Private Museum Gallery, Singapore
• 2015 | These Sacred Things, Jendela Esplanade, Singapore / Secret Archipelago, Palais De Tokyo Museum, Paris, France / Once Upon a Hill, Utama Gallery, Fort Canning, Singapore
• 2014 | Budi Daya, Malay Heritage Centre, Singapore / Modern Love, Institute of Contemporary Art, LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore / Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale #3, Gallery National Indonesia, Jakarta 1
• 2013 | Singapore Biennale 2013, Singapore
• 2012 | International Pottery Show, Naminara Island, Seoul, Korea
• 2011 | Singapore Sculpture Society – 10 years, National Library, Singapore
• 2010 | 2010 Ulsan International Onggi Competition, Busan, South Korea / Mungyeong Tea Bowl Festival, Mungyeong, Korea
• 2009 | Passsion in Clay, The ARTrium, MICA Building
• 2008 | 62-08: APAD Tradition, Innovation & Continuity, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore / LostCity2, Sculpture Square, Singapore / 8Q-Rate: School, 8Q Singapore Art Museum, Singapore / Catalyst=Equation, Fost
• Gallery, Singapore
• 2007 | International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition: Asian Ceramics Network and Selsius 2007 (3rd ACN), National Art Gallery, Malaysia / Mapped, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore / Passion in Clay, Shanghai, China
• 2006 | ASEAN Ceramic Workshop 2006, Galeri Seni, UiTM, Perak, Malaysia / Ceramics beyond borders, National Library Building, Singapore / The Second Dance Song – New Contemporaries, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore / 2nd Asian Ceramics Network Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand
• 2005 | The WAHANA Project: Imagine Legacy, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung, Indonesia / Badang, Substation Gallery, Singapore / The WAHANA, Vargas Gallery, University of Philippines, Philippines / First Asian Ceramics Network, Craft Culture Design Innovation Center, Korea / Form-ing Materials and Processes, Sculpture Square, Singapore
• 2004 | Tok Selampit Millenium, Jendela Gallery, Singapore / LOST City, Utterly Art Gallery, Singapore / The LaSalle School Show, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
• 2003 | WAHANA, Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Discovery Phase, Art Two Gallery, Singapore / Singapore Contemporary Ceramics, Art Season Gallery, Singapore / Bilateral Bonds, Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Sculpture Biennale Symposium, Plastic Kinetic 2 Worms Gallery and NIE/NTU Gallery, Singapore / Power Show – Work in Progress, Substation, Singapore
• 2002 | BadEevilAwfulUglyTerribleYucky, Utterly Art, Singapore / Past, Present, Beyond, NUS Museum, Singapore / The Alumni Exhibition, Tasmania, Australia / New Sculpture Milennium, National Museum of History Taipeh, Pier-2 Art District Kaohsiung, Taiwan / Portrait Reasses, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
• 2001 | Nokia Singapore Art 2001, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore / Contemporary 2001-APAD, Calligraphy Centre, Singapore / Too2, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
• 2000 | Nokia Art, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore 1999 | Provocative Things – A 3-Dimensional Experience in Singapore, Sculpture Square, Singapore / Cartblanche, Alliance Francais’ Gallery, Singapore / Praxis, Earl Lu Gallery, LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore
• 1998 | Drawing and Diagram: Ideas Personified (Singapore Art Festival), Caldwell House, Chijmes, Singapore / Everything Must Go, Substation Gallery, Singapore / Perak Arts Festival, Malaysia
• 1997 | Singapore Art ’97, Suntec City Convention Centre, Singapore / Look Exhibition, Earl Lu Gallery, LaSalle SIA College, Singapore / F.O.R.M., Barli Museum, Bandung, Indonesia
• 1996 | Inaugural Exhibition -Modernity and Beyond, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
• 1995 | From Another Place, Tasmania, Australia
• 1994 | Prefx Point Travelling Show, Singapore and Malaysia
• 1993 | Art in Asia (Singapore Art Fair), World Trade Centre, Singapore
• 1992 | Metropol!!, The Substation, Singapore / Vision IV, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore / The Space (Singapore Festival of Arts Fringe Programme), Hong Bee Warehouse, Singapore / Bread and Butter Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
• 1991 | National Sculpture Seminar, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
• 1990 | Chrysalis (Singapore Art Festival Fringe Programme), Marina Room, Singapore / Best of LaSalle, Arts Affairs Gallery, Singapore / The Arts for Nature, The Exhibition Gallery, Empress Place, Singapore / Vision III, The Substation Gallery, Singapore / Australian Art Award, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore / 3 Gateway of Malaysia, Johor Bahru,
  
  Malaysia Awards
  
• 2010 | Very Special Award, 2010 Ulsan International Onggi Competition, South Korea
• 1999 | For outstanding Artistic Creativity, Singapore Turf Club Art Competition, Singapore
• 1998 | The Arts Award of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Japan
• 1990 | IBM Art Award, Merit Award, Singapore / Teater Remaja -Kemuning, Indonesia

For full CV and biography details, please contact the gallery at enquiry@ipreciation.com