Ernest Zacharevic is a Lithuanian-born artist known for his multidisciplinary approach that merges fine art with urban and public interventions. Based in Penang, Malaysia, Zacharevic rose to international acclaim for his site-specific street murals that blend painting, installation, and sculpture, often incorporating found objects to create dynamic, interactive works.
Trained at the Art Academy in Vilnius and Middlesex University in London, Zacharevic’s practice bridges classical technique with contemporary expression. His breakout series of murals, created for the George Town Festival in 2012, has since become iconic landmarks and symbols of Penang’s cultural revival.
Zacharevic’s work extends far beyond Malaysia, with public art projects across Singapore, New York, Lisbon, Miami, and cities throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. His interventions are deeply contextual, rooted in the history, social fabric, and visual language of each site.
In recent years, Zacharevic has focused on environmental and social issues. He is the founder of Splash and Burn, an artist-led initiative addressing ecological crises—particularly the impact of palm oil deforestation in Southeast Asia—through collaborative, socially engaged projects with NGOs and fellow artists.
His recently opened gallery, Cultprint, located in George Town, Penang, serves as a cultural hub, hosting a diverse program of exhibitions, collaborations, and community events.
Balancing public art, studio practice, and curatorial projects, Zacharevic continues to explore the role of art as a catalyst for dialogue, change, and the reimagining of public space.

 

Selected Exhibitions 

2024 Solo Exhibition, ‘Mural Mural on the Wall’, Cultprint, Penang, Malaysia
2024 Solo Exhibition, “The Importance of Being Ernest”,  Blank Canvas, Penang, Malaysia. 
2023 Solo Exhibition, “Lost & Found”, B.East Gallery, Florence, Italy
2022 Solo Exhibition, “Everything Will Be OK”, Rex KL, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2021 Artist/Guest Curator, ‘Vanguard’, Bristol Museum of Art, UK
2019 Group Exhibition, ‘Moniker Summer Show’, Moniker Culture,  Leeds, UK
2016 Group Exhibition, ‘Exploring The New Contemporary Movement', Honolulu Museum of Art, USA
2017 Group Exhibition, “Magic City”, Dresden, Germany
2016 Group Exhibition, “Vitality and Verve: In the 3rd Dimension”, Long Beach Museum of Art, USA
2015 Solo Exhibition, “Floor is Lava”, Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2015 Group Exhibition, ‘Juxtapoz 20th AnniversaryShow’, San Francisco, USA
2015 Group Exhibition 'Invisible College’, Fort Wayne Museum, USA
2015 Group Exhibition, “Brotherhood”, Johnathan Levine Gallery, New York, USA
2014 Solo Exhibition, “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, Montana Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2014 Solo Exhibition,  “Art is Rubbish, Rubbish is Art”, Hin Bus Depot, Penang, Malaysia

 

Selected Projects

2024 Mural, “Floor is Lava”, Dream Space, Chiangmai, Thailand
2024 Mural, “Ugly Duckling”, Aalborg, Denmark
2023 Mural, “Birdwatchers”, Houston, Texas
2023 Artist/Curator, “Haze Coming Soon”, collaborative campaign with Greenpeace, Malaysia
2019 Director, “Rewild”, Short Film, Sumatra, Indonesia
2019 Artist/Project Ambassador, “Goal 0”, Lavazza, Turin, Italy
2019 Mural, “Life is Beautiful” Las Vegas, USA
2018 Mural, “Granite City”, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK 
2016 - 2025 Artist/Curator, “Splash & Burn”, art activism campaign
2015 Mural Series, “Replay NYC”, Collaborative project with Martha Cooper, New York, USA
2015 Mural, “Home Sweet Home” Stavanger, Norway
2014 Mural Series, “Old Town”, Ipoh, Malaysia
2014 Mural Series, “Pow Wow”, Hawaii, USA
2014 - 2016 Artist/Co-Curator, “Vilnius Street Art Festival”, Vilnius, Lithuania 
2013 Mural, “Style Wars”, Joo Chiat, Singapore
2012 Mural, “Hand Stand”, Stavanger, Norway
2012 Mural Series, “Mirrors Georgetown”, Penang, Malaysia

 

Education

2006-2009 BA Fine Arts, Middlesex University, London, UK
2005-2006 BA Printmaking, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vilnius, Lithuania
1997-2005 National M.K. Ciurlionis School of Arts, Vilnius, Lithuania