artist · educator

dahlia osman artist photo

photo: Zinkie Aw

I am a multidisciplinary artist who works with various art forms, between sculptures, drawings and prints. I enjoy investigating materiality and structures, working with mediums such as wood, rubber, charcoal and paper, experimenting with function and play.

I “think out loud” through art, making connections between my personal narratives, the wider human condition and the politics of behaviour. Neuroplasticity and psychology are also part of my interrogations.

I am currently examining the tensions inherent in points of contact, departure and collision.

I have created public sculptures, as well as large charcoal drawings and murals for local museums and private residences. I have also collaborated with theatre companies on set design and fabrication for numerous productions.

In 2022, I led a group of community art-makers to create works for of life and legacy, an exhibition for Both Sides, Now. My extensive work experiences include Japan, Jakarta, Brunei, Australia, New York (Tyler Graphics Ltd.) and London (Antony Gormley Studio).

I am a versatile art educator with 30 years of experience teaching various disciplines at various institutions, including LASALLE College of the Arts, United World College S.E.A. and Central Saint Martins, London.

I am available for commissions and teaching engagements.

behind the scenes

  • Drawing: knotting, weaving and sewing a garment of myself, 2008, FOST GALLERY

    Drawing: knotting, weaving and sewing a garment of myself, 2008, FOST GALLERY

  • Installation: Learning To Fly, 1998

  • Kudaku Lari (progress shot)

    Sculpture: Kudaku Lari, 2000, Singapore Turf Club

  • Mural: History of Fort Canning, 1997, Singapore History Museum

  • Set design: A.I. (Artificial Insemination), 1998, TheatreWorks

  • Mural: Artist Meet at an Exhibition, 1996, The Substation

Qualifications

2015
Master of Arts

Central Saint Martins,
University of the Arts London

1995
Bachelor of Arts

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia

LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore

1993
Diploma in Fine Arts

Scholarships/
Awards/
Sponsorships

Research Study to Japan,
National Heritage Board 

2002

Apprenticeship
Tyler Graphics Ltd.
New York, USA 

2000

Lioness Club Scholarship
Jeremy Ramsey Fund 
National Arts Council

1995

British and Malayan Trustees Award 

1993

Selected Teaching Experience

2017 – 2019 
Artist Educator

Singapore Girls Home

2003 – 2005
Visual Arts External Examiner (IB programme) 

International Baccalaureate Organization 

BA Hons Fine Arts, McNally School of Fine Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts
- Drawing Component Leader & Lecturer, Foundation Studies (2006 – 2013)

1994 – current
Lecturer

National Arts Council – Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP) 
Artist-Mentor Scheme (AMS) and Artist-In School Scheme (AISS) 

2018 – current
Artist Educator 

National Gallery Singapore 

- Museum-Based Learning x Ministry of Education 
- Workshops and Learning Journeys (for school leaders, teachers, students & public)
- Preschool to tertiary education 
- Docent Training 
- Parent & Child Programmes 

2016 – current 
Artist Educator

(STAR) Singapore Teachers Academy of the aRts, 
Ministry of Education 

2020 – 2022 
Artist Educator

STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery 

2017 – 2019 
Senior Educator

MacPherson Primary School 
- Mentoring students with Learning Difficulties and Special Needs 

2017 – 2019 
Artist Mentor

Selected International Experience

Central Saint Martins,
University of the Arts London  
UK

2015
BA Tutorial Facilitator 

Antony Gormley Studio 
London, UK

2014
Studio Assistant  

LASALLE College of the Arts
Southeast Asia

2006 – 2013
Student Recruitment

International Baccalaureate Organization
Brunei Darussalam  

2005
Visual Arts External Examiner

World Exposition 2005, Singapore Tourism Board
Aichi, Japan 

2005  
Artist-in-Residence 

Tyler Graphics Ltd
- Apprentice printmaker to Kenneth E. Tyler
New York, USA

2000 
Apprentice Printmaker

Selected Collaborations/
Commissioned Works

Art in the Commons: Dakota Cassia – A Community Project 
DramaBox 

2024
Artist

Both Sides, Now – A Community Project 
DramaBox x ArtsWok Collaborative 

2021 – 2022 
Artist 

Our Heartlands
Plural Art Mag 

2020  
Artist 

A Beautiful Companion
The Writers’ Lab
TheatreWorks 

2006 
Set Designer/Artist

Esplanade – theatres on the bay 

2006 
Artist/Designer

Paris 2005
HERMES

2005
Window display artist

STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery
- Collaborated with artists Donald Sultan (USA), Chua Ek Kay (Singapore) & Pacita Abad (Philippines) 

2005
Associate Head Printer & Collaborator 
Assistant Papermaker

Eternal Egypt
Asian Civilization Museum

1999
Sculptor

A.I (Artificial Insemination)
TheatreWorks 

1998
Costume & Set Designer

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Singapore Lyric Theatre 

1997
Properties Master

Children Discovery Gallery
Singapore History Museum 

1997
Mural Artist

Singapore History Museum 

1997
Artist-In-Residence 

Who’s Afraid of Chow Yuen Fatt
WOW International 

1996
Backdrop Artist 

Broken Birds
TheatreWorks 

1995
Programme Designer 

Scorpion Orchids
Singapore Festival of the Arts
TheatreWorks 

1994
Mural and Backdrop Artist  

Tok Dalang Hamzah Awang Amat, Lao Jiu by Kuo Pao Kun
-Puppet Maker to Kelantanese Wayang Kulit Master 
TheatreWorks 

1993
Puppet Maker

Selected Exhibitions

2024
The Critical Craft Collective Lab, GRID

crafty?

2023
LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts
Earl Lu Gallery

Threads

2023
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Small Talk

2015
Central Saint Martins,
London
  

Big Space

2012
Project Space Gallery,
LASALLE College of the Arts
  

Landing Places, Objectifs, Singapore Dreamer By Day 

2011
Project Space, LASALLE College of the Arts 

Transposition 

2010
Project Space, LASALLE College of the Arts 

di.a.logue 

1999
LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts
Earl Lu Gallery

Praxis 

1997
LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts
Earl Lu Gallery

Look

One and Three Chairs

2024
The Critical Craft Collective Lab, GRID

wood sculpture symposium

2023
Sculpture Society Singapore

of life and legacy

2022
Heartbeat@
Bedok

Streets of hope

2020

Our Heartlands

2020

We ALL Draw: Thinking Drawings 

2015
Southbank Centre, London  

Negotiation of Identity 

2015
The Blue Studios,
London
  

Aestivation 

2015
Annex Studios,
London
  

Granfalloon 

2015
Lethaby Gallery,
London
  

Print Jam 

2014
Central Saint Martins,
London
  

Auction

2014
Bargehouse,
London
  

Tomorrow Today 

2015
Parfitt Gallery,
London
  

Woman on Woman: Lace 

2008
FOST Gallery

Tok Selampit 

2004
Esplanade,
The Concourse

equilibrium 

2004
Utterly Art Exhibition Space 

Work-In-Progress 

2000
LaSalle Gallery 

Passage

1996
Wetterling Teo Gallery 

Artist Meet at an Exhibition 

1996
The Substation  

Lifestyle, Culture and Perception An exhibition of print works by Singapore and Jilin (China) Artists 

1995
Bhopal, India  

The 3rd Bharat Bhavan International Biennial of Prints 

1994
National History Museum