Oslo, Norway · Cartoonist · Illustrator · Publisher
ARiF turns ideas into images that make people stop, think, and feel.
ARiF (Arifur Rahman) is an award-winning Norwegian cartoonist of Bangladeshi origin, illustrator, animator, and founder of Toons Mag. For more than three decades, he has drawn the stories institutions would rather leave unsaid — and built platforms that give other artists room to do the same.
The practice
Classical drawing, carried into every medium.
From cartoons and sequential art to animation, painting, and digital platforms — each project begins with a clear idea and a line worth following.
Ways of working
Digital toolkit
Selected work
All workMAGA global home for cartoonists
Toons Mag
A global platform for cartoonists built on one idea: art shouldn't need permission.
Read the storyIN WAR51 countries · 128 cartoonists
Children in War
128 cartoonists from 51 countries, exhibited across Norway and Sweden.
Read the storyRIGHTS79 countries · 567 cartoonists
Women's Rights
567 cartoonists, 79 countries, opened on International Women's Day.
Read the storyIndependent ventures
Building homes for ideas beyond the page.
Publishing, radio, news, comics, and networks built to connect artists, readers, and communities across borders.
Toons Mag
An international cartoon and illustration magazine publishing in five languages.
Visit Toons Mag RadioFNF Radio
An online radio station broadcasting in three languages.
Visit FNF Radio NetworkCartoonist Network
A platform connecting cartoonists internationally.
Explore the network WebcomicAriArk
A bilingual comics and graphic-novel universe, including the daily series Lion.
Visit AriArkRecognition
A selection of awards and milestones — see the full list on the About page.
About ARiF
A cartoonist who has never drawn for the quiet life.
ARiF started drawing cartoons as a teenager in rural Bangladesh, sending work to newspapers by hand. A single satirical cartoon in 2007 led to his imprisonment — and, eventually, asylum in Norway, where he rebuilt his practice and founded Toons Mag, now a home for cartoonists who need one. He works today as an illustrator, animator, and publisher, based in Norway.
Read the full story
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 servicesEditorial & 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 drawn from the Toons Mag playbook.