Alif Edi Irmawan was born in Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta. He started his artistic career by studying Fine Arts at the Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta. Speaking of his work, he chose realism with with colors that create an illusion. His artworks often depict the urban life of his hometown in Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia, an industrial and metropolitan city that inspires in art practice. His arwork was critical of many social phenomena, such as politics, as a representation of a new idea.