Independent studio · Oslo, Norway

Images for ideas that refuse to be ignored.

ARiF is the independent studio of award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, animator, and publisher Arifur Rahman. For more than three decades, he has transformed complex subjects into direct, memorable visual stories for publications, institutions, and international exhibitions.

ARiF in Oslo with a white dove
ARiF · Oslo, Norway
30+ yearsIndependent practice 40+ venuesAcross Europe & Asia FounderToons Mag, est. 2009 Award-winningThe BOBs, 2015

The practice

One visual practice, shaped for every brief.

From a first editorial sketch to final artwork, motion, or exhibition, every project is built around clarity, craft, and an audience.

Project formats

  • Print & publishing
  • Campaigns
  • Books & magazines
  • Digital media
  • Film & motion
  • Talks & workshops

Selected case studies

Work built to travel.

All work

From an independent publishing platform to exhibitions uniting hundreds of artists, these projects turn a clear visual idea into lasting public impact.

Independent ventures

Beyond the page.

Platforms Arifur has founded or built to give illustrators, writers, and readers a home.

Recognition

A selection of awards and milestones — see the full list on the About page.

5Publishing languages through Toons Mag
1,600+Cartoons submitted to a single contest
2015The BOBs — Best of Online Activism
40+Exhibition venues across Europe and Asia

About ARiF

A cartoonist who has never drawn for the quiet life.

ARiF began drawing in rural Bangladesh. After a 2007 cartoon led to imprisonment and, later, asylum in Norway, he rebuilt a multidisciplinary practice spanning illustration, animation, publishing, and international exhibitions.

Read the full story
ARiF drawing at an easel, surrounded by original cartoon artwork

The practice

“A good drawing says what a thousand careful words can’t.”

That belief shapes every commission: clear thinking, a distinct point of view, and imagery that stays with people after they have looked away.

How we can work together

All services

Editorial & political illustration

Sharp, publication-ready cartoons and illustrations for newspapers, magazines, and campaigns.

Custom illustration & character design

Distinctive visual identities, characters, and imagery for brands, books, and editorial features.

Animation & exhibition curation

Short-form animation, plus contest and exhibition consulting shaped by years of international curatorial experience.

Have an idea worth drawing out?

Share your subject, audience, format, timeline, and intended use. ARiF will respond personally within 24 hours.

Available for selected editorial commissions, illustration projects, exhibitions, talks, and international collaborations.

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