Lim, Justin

1983

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Lim completed the Master of Arts (Fine Arts) organized by Open University in UK in 2006, and earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore in 2005, with a specialization in painting. His works captures lively scenes of indoor-outdoor living, rendered in vibrant acrylics. Overflowing with flora, bold patterns, and colorful decor, his work draws inspiration from the playful energy of cartoons and comic books. Lim’s fascination with interiors has stemmed partially from his experience during COVID-19 lockdowns, which he has said pushed him to look inward.

Lim has extensively showcased solo and group exhibitions across Southeast Asia and was awarded a scholarship in 2008 for the Malaysia-Australia Visual Artist Residency Program, where he conducted a residency at Rimbun Dahan, an art enclave near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Subsequently, he has undertaken several artist residencies, including Vermont Studio Centre, USA (awarded Asian Artist Fellowship/Freeman Fellowship in 2011), Red Gate Gallery, Beijing (selected for Khazanah Nasional Artist-in-Residence Program in 2013), and Tasmanian College of the Arts, Australia (selected for International Artist Residency Program in 2016).

His participation in group exhibitions includes Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, 2009; Modern Love, Singapore, 2015; Asian Youth 36/Asian Contemporary, Jeonju City Museum, South Korea, 2016; Contemporary Chaos, curated by Demetrio Paparoni, Italian art critic and curator, at Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway, 2018.

In 2023, Lim was shortlisted for Sovereign Asian Art Prize. He currently resides and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

BIOGRAPHY

1983 Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2005 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Painting, Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
2006 Master of Art (Fine Art), Open University, UK
Present Resides and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023

Everyday Saudade, Untitled Art 2023, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

2022

A Daydream a Day, Richard Koh Fine Art, Bangkok, Thailand

2021

Sometimes I’d Rather Talk to Flowers, ART021, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shaghai, China
Sanctuary, Richard Koh Fine Art, Singapore

2019

Planet Shangri-La, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2017

Honey Trap Arcadia, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2015

Modern Absurdity and the Superficial Abyss, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2014

There is No Other Paradise, Art Stage, Singapore

2013

Arcane Fantasies for the Flesh and the Sublime, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2011

Asian Artist Fellowship Residency Show, Vermont Studio Centre, Vermont, USA

2010

Secret Identities, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2009

Gods, Heroes & Myths, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia

2007

Agents, Actions & Consequences, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2006

Momentum, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2023

The Colour Of Life: Exporing Kaleidoscopic Narratives (Virtual Exhibition), Galeri Khazanah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2018

Contemporary Chaos, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway

2016

Asia Young 36 / Asia Contemporary, Jeonbuk Museum of Art, Jeonju, South Korea

2015

Modern Love, Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore

2011

Asian Artist Fellowship, Vermont Studio Centre, Vermont, USA

2009

Asian Art Biennale: Viewpoints and Viewing Points, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

2007

Singapore Art Show, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

2006

MFA Degree Show, Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore

2005

Balthus Bemused by Colour, Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore
Urban on Urban, Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

ART SG, Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore

2023

ART021, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
Art Basel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
ART SG, Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore

2022

Hotel Art Fair, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Art Jakarta, Jakarta Convention Centre Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia
The Back Room Shop, The Back Room, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2019

Art Expo Malaysia, Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hotel Art Fair, Bangkok, Thailand

2018

VOLTA14, Basel, Switzerland
Art Central, Hong Kong

2017

The Artling Pop Up, Helutrans, Singapore

2013

Young Artist Discovery: Art Taipei, Beirut Art Fair, Beirut Art Stage, Singapore

2012, 2014, 2016, 2018

Art Stage, Singapore

2012

Snapshots, WWF Art for Nature, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia
Collective Alternatif, Malaysian Art Expo, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2011

18@8 Save the Planet, Wei Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Culture Vulture, Taksu, Singapore

2010

Malaysia Contemporary Art Festival, Galeri, Malaysia
Seri Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Survival, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia
Tiger Show, Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2009

Iskandar Malaysian Contemporary Art Show, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tanah Air, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia
Peninsula & Island, Taksu, Singapore

2008

Shifting Boundaries, Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia

2007

ARTSingapore, Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore

2006

Rage Against the Dying of the Light, La Libreria, Singapore
The New Messengers, Taksu, Singapore

SELECTED AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2023 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Shortlist

2016 International Artist in Residence, Tasmanian College of the Arts, University of Tasmania, Australia

Visiting Artist in Residence, Artspace, Sydney, Australia

2013 Khazanah Nasional Artist Commissioning Programme, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China

2011 Asian Artist Fellowship (Freeman Fellowship), Vermont Studio Centre, USA

2008 Malaysia-Australia Visual Artist Residency, Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2007 Taksu Artist Residency Programme, Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2006 Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts Scholarship

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Jeonbuk Museum of Art, South Korea

Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia

Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia

Zain Azahari Collection, Malaysia

Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection, Malaysia